Scrolling on insta reels and one made me stop in my tracks. It was not a deep and serious reel, but it had me thinking, re-thinking and then all in my feels. Let me set the scene for you. It is a car ride home for a little boy. I'm guessing he is about 5-6 years old. He is ecstatic to tell his mom about what role he received in the play displaying the Nativity and telling the story of Jesus birth. He says that he is a classic part and Mom is guessing the different roles he may have been given...Joseph, Wisemen. He finally announces that he has been assigned Door Holder #3 and that he will hold the door open to usher Mary and Joseph in and that he will get to dress in brown like the door. He is over the moon about this role. It's cute and it made me say...Awwww, that is so cute. But it stuck with me and I kept thinking about it.
There's a regular life lesson in it for me, as well as a Christmas lesson honestly. First the regular life lesson...how often do we...or should I say "I"... want to have the important role? Be center stage? Be in charge? Have the spotlight on us for all to see how hard we've worked? Receive accolades for a job well done? Want to be noticed for our efforts and results? Feel appreciated and loved? And on the flip side, how often are we glad to be behind the scenes, unackowledged, unseen, unpraised, unnoticed, and even seemingly unappreciated? Now I do know that some people would savor this flip side to go unnoticed, but I think many of us don't love being overlooked and undervalued. We want to know that we are making a difference and that it is appreciated (maybe not to have a big expression, but an acknowledgement of effort). But you see...it takes ALL of the roles in the play (and in life) to make it all work. Without the work behind the scenes and each person performing their own duties, things start to fall apart. That's the beauty of a play...every role is crucial in the final product...from set design, to costumes, to lights/sound, to lead roles, to background actors...even to the door holders. So when I am feeling worthless, unseen, or unappreciated...I want to feel the joy of Door Holder #3 because I want to be able to support the success of others and let them shine....Since watching that reel, I've paused many times and looked around me to see where I can be the supporting role to someone else's achievement, to someoe else's time to shine. I want to do more of that.
Christmas lesson....quite simply what an honor it would be to simply be a door holder in the Christmas Nativity story....to be able to usher in our Savior, to watch from the sidelines as this baby King, Jesus, was brought into the world, to be in the presence of His wonder, to clear the way for the Savior to be born in a manger and fulfill the prophecy of the Old Testament. And honestly...how do I apply that to my life today? Am I holding the door open for people to see and hear about my King, Jesus? Am I leading them into see and hear about the Savior who came to this earth to live and show us how to live? Am I leading others not just to the Christmas story, but to Jesus' life, death, and resurrection? Or am I standing on the sidelines thinking that I am not good enough and that only the lead roles (pastors, elders, public leaders) are able to tell the story? What part am I taking in the telling of the story? Where can I hold the door for others to see?
Lord today I ask you to help me be ecstatic to be the door holder. The one that encourages and uplifts others in their roles in life, celebrates other's victories, and is so thankful to be part of the story that you have laid out for me, at times as a lead, at times behind the scenes, and at times blending into the scenery. I pray that especially this Christmas that I could be a door holder...one who ushers others to the story of Jesus, who welcomes others to learn of this Savior of the world. Let me be delighted in the roles that you give me on a daily basis. Thank you Jesus for the sweet reminder that whatever you call us to do, we should do with joy in our hearts and do it all for the glory of God (I Corinthians 10:31).
I will try to link the reel...I'm not super techy, so who knows if it will work or not.
