I felt myself shrinking a little. It was as though I thought if I moved back an inch or two, or slumped down in my chair, maybe I wouldn’t be noticed. I didn’t feel like being there in the first place. I was coming down with a cold and was extremely tired. The worst part was that the practice hadn’t even started until 7:45 p.m. Who, in their right mind, gets out at that unearthly hour for a practice? My son had taken up a new sport. He was really enjoying it, and most of the time I was too, but not tonight. As she turned her gaze my way, I cringed. I wished I were a turtle with the ability to pop my head down into my shell, or better yet, the invisible man (woman), who could disappear altogether. The season was getting underway and the games were starting in a week or so. One of the veteran Moms had just made an announcement. “We need a team mom for each of our teams in the league.” She said it optimistically with a pleasant smile. After not getting as much response as she had obviously hoped for, she began scanning those of us who had not volunteered, looking for prospects. This is when I wanted to do the disappearing act. Oh no! There it was. She had said my name. She followed it up with, “Would you be interested?” I wanted to say, “NO!” But instead, these cowardly words tumbled out of my mouth: “What would I have to do?”
Don’t get me wrong. It’s not that I don’t want to be helpful, or to do my fair share, but the problem was, my proverbial plate was already heaped high. I felt better after she explained my responsibilities and especially after I found out that another Mom and I were going to share them.
About a week later, my son came home from the academy he attends and handed me a typed schedule of his games. My name was handwritten at the top, and beside it were these words: “Co-Team Mom for Bronze L.” Reading those words made me feel good. I am a woman of few titles. I have been a stay-at-home Mom for, well, always. I’m not sure how Co-Team Mom sounded so different to me from just plain Mom or Grammy (what my granddaughters call me), but somehow it did.
What is it about titles? I don’t think it’s so much the titles that appeal to us, but their ability to make us feel significant. Significance is the heart of the matter. I am persuaded of this because I have known people who almost refuse to be recognized by a rightful title. They seem to take pride in their humility! It gives them a greater sense of significance.
When we really know who we are, titles will lose their grip on us. Jesus didn’t need earthly recognition to make Him feel significant. Jesus “….got up from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself. Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.” Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords laid aside His garments. He didn’t lay aside a rightfully deserved royal robe, but he stripped Himself even of the common clothes He was wearing. He did the job of a servant, that none of the apostles seemed to be willing to do. How could He do this? He knew who He was. This particular servant act of Jesus was introduced with words that would forever make it clear to us what enabled Jesus to do even the lowliest tasks. “Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God, got up from supper and laid aside…”
Our ability to serve like Christ hinges on our knowing what Christ knew:
First, on knowing what has been given into our hands. “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness…” 2 Peter 1:3;
Secondly, on our understanding that we are on assignment from God, “…we are ambassadors for Christ…” 2 Corinthians 5:20; and
Thirdly, on where we are headed, “For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down---when we die and leave these bodies---we will have a home in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands.” 2 Corinthians 5:1
If the caterpillar knew
He was one of just a few
Designed for transformation
A divine beautification,
If he could see his future state
That there was an appointed date
When he would no longer be bound
To life upon the ground
If the caterpillar only knew…
If he was somehow given foresight
His darkness pierced by bright light
A merciful revelation
Of his glorious destination
If the caterpillar only knew…
If he were told that he would fly
Unencumbered through the sky
That wings would bear him up
And he would drink nectar of the buttercup
If the caterpillar only knew…
Would he not spend his “caterpillar days”
Filled with exultant praise,
Joyfully celebrating
The day he was awaiting?
If the caterpillar only knew…
Or would he mope about
Filled with cares and doubt
In spite of the knowledge he’d been given
Of soaring through the heavens?
If the caterpillar only knew….
Do we live like we know
We bear God’s image here below,
That we’re the crown of His creation
Brought forth from His imagination?
We’re equipped to understand
The destiny of born-again man
That this earth-bound house will dissolve
And then we truly will evolve
Do we live like we know?
Do we focus on our future state
On that appointed date
When we will most surely fly
To our eternal home in the sky?
Do we live like we know?
Do we spend our “caterpillar days”
Filled with exultant praise
Joyously celebrating
The day we are awaiting?
Do we live like we know?
Note in case you are reading this to:
the director of my son's team - I completely understood why we had the 7:45 practice slot :)
the Veteran Mom who recruited me - I truly enjoy being a Team Mom. Thanks for dragging me out of my comfort zone :)
Love u both!
Don’t get me wrong. It’s not that I don’t want to be helpful, or to do my fair share, but the problem was, my proverbial plate was already heaped high. I felt better after she explained my responsibilities and especially after I found out that another Mom and I were going to share them.
About a week later, my son came home from the academy he attends and handed me a typed schedule of his games. My name was handwritten at the top, and beside it were these words: “Co-Team Mom for Bronze L.” Reading those words made me feel good. I am a woman of few titles. I have been a stay-at-home Mom for, well, always. I’m not sure how Co-Team Mom sounded so different to me from just plain Mom or Grammy (what my granddaughters call me), but somehow it did.
What is it about titles? I don’t think it’s so much the titles that appeal to us, but their ability to make us feel significant. Significance is the heart of the matter. I am persuaded of this because I have known people who almost refuse to be recognized by a rightful title. They seem to take pride in their humility! It gives them a greater sense of significance.
When we really know who we are, titles will lose their grip on us. Jesus didn’t need earthly recognition to make Him feel significant. Jesus “….got up from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself. Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.” Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords laid aside His garments. He didn’t lay aside a rightfully deserved royal robe, but he stripped Himself even of the common clothes He was wearing. He did the job of a servant, that none of the apostles seemed to be willing to do. How could He do this? He knew who He was. This particular servant act of Jesus was introduced with words that would forever make it clear to us what enabled Jesus to do even the lowliest tasks. “Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God, got up from supper and laid aside…”
Our ability to serve like Christ hinges on our knowing what Christ knew:
First, on knowing what has been given into our hands. “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness…” 2 Peter 1:3;
Secondly, on our understanding that we are on assignment from God, “…we are ambassadors for Christ…” 2 Corinthians 5:20; and
Thirdly, on where we are headed, “For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down---when we die and leave these bodies---we will have a home in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands.” 2 Corinthians 5:1
If the caterpillar knew
He was one of just a few
Designed for transformation
A divine beautification,
If he could see his future state
That there was an appointed date
When he would no longer be bound
To life upon the ground
If the caterpillar only knew…
If he was somehow given foresight
His darkness pierced by bright light
A merciful revelation
Of his glorious destination
If the caterpillar only knew…
If he were told that he would fly
Unencumbered through the sky
That wings would bear him up
And he would drink nectar of the buttercup
If the caterpillar only knew…
Would he not spend his “caterpillar days”
Filled with exultant praise,
Joyfully celebrating
The day he was awaiting?
If the caterpillar only knew…
Or would he mope about
Filled with cares and doubt
In spite of the knowledge he’d been given
Of soaring through the heavens?
If the caterpillar only knew….
Do we live like we know
We bear God’s image here below,
That we’re the crown of His creation
Brought forth from His imagination?
We’re equipped to understand
The destiny of born-again man
That this earth-bound house will dissolve
And then we truly will evolve
Do we live like we know?
Do we focus on our future state
On that appointed date
When we will most surely fly
To our eternal home in the sky?
Do we live like we know?
Do we spend our “caterpillar days”
Filled with exultant praise
Joyously celebrating
The day we are awaiting?
Do we live like we know?
Note in case you are reading this to:
the director of my son's team - I completely understood why we had the 7:45 practice slot :)
the Veteran Mom who recruited me - I truly enjoy being a Team Mom. Thanks for dragging me out of my comfort zone :)
Love u both!
