"Well excuse me but I think you've got my chair. No that one's not taken, I don't care if you sit here, I'll be glad to share..."
If you're a George Strait fan like me, you know that's the opening line to his hit song, "The Chair". It's said it was written in 20 minutes by Hank Cochran and Dean Dillon. Smiling, I remember going to my first and what we thought was possibly his last concert at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo on March 17, 2019. I heard that very song and so many of his hit songs live! Our daughter and daughter-in-law cooked up this deal where they would both be online when the tickets went on sale. Our daughter was going to buy tickets for my husband and myself and our daughter-in-law was going to buy tickets for her parents and we would go to the concert together. The only problem was, our daughter was able to get tickets but it sold out so quickly that our daughter-in-law was unable to get a set. My husband wasn't thrilled about the idea of the crowd so I asked our daughter-in-law's mother to go with me. We had a ball!
It's funny what you remember as you get older. I don't remember going many places as a family when I was a young girl. On one occasion, I remember we went to a county fair. Dad went off with my older sister and brother and mom and I went to play bingo. We hadn't been there long when "BINGO" mom had won! WOW! I never dreamed she would actually win! There were all sorts of prizes in the center of the bingo play area...sparkly lamps, watches, other jewelry...wide-eyed and excited I wanted to help mom choose which item of bling that would come home with us! She scanned the items..."Mom, look at that!" or "How about that!?!" After examining the prizes, she chose...a plain, unstained, wooden folding chair. Wait...what? That? Why?! She chose the chair because her feet hurt and she wanted a place to sit -- that was valuable to her. Looking back, I'm sure that's why she chose Bingo -- so she could sit. I had no idea.
Fast forward many years later, I was trying to think of something special for mom for Mother's Day. Someone said she and her mother were going for pedicures. What a great idea! I thought mom would enjoy some pampering of her feet. I made the appointment for the Saturday before Mother's Day and called mom to surprise her with news of our up coming mom-daughter date. When I told her, instead of the expected excitement, there was a moment of silence and then she said flatly, "No, I don't want that." Oh. "Okay...well I'll just cancel the appointment and figure out something else", I answered. She said, "I just don't want anyone touching my feet."
On the evening before the trial and subsequent crucifixion of Jesus, he shared the Passover meal with His disciples. There were miracles in the preparation for the meal. Jesus sent Peter and John into Jerusalem. Upon entering the city, they were to look for a man carrying a pitcher of water. So what's so unusual about that? Women were the ones who carried water! When they found the man with the pitcher and they were to say, "The teacher asks where is the guest room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?" With that, the man takes them to a large upstairs room that is already set up for them to prepare the Passover meal. (Luke 22:7-14) So at some point during the evening, Jesus takes another opportunity for a teaching moment...for His time with them is now very short. He removed his outer robe, took a basin of water and began to wash His disciples' feet -- a task reserved only for slaves to perform. Jesus was trying to teach them how to lead as a servant with humility --- they just had no idea. Poor Peter, he was as skilled at chewing leather as I am! He said, "No! You will never ever wash my feet!" Jesus said, "You don't understand now what I am doing, but some day you will." (John 13:7) After Jesus finished washing the disciples' feet, he sat back down and tried to further explain the idea of servanthood. Did they get it? They should have -- they had seen our Lord perform so many, many miracles in service to others with humility. That same evening, they argued for a second time about who among them would be the greatest! Our Lord was patient with them-- promising a "Helper"-- the Holy Spirit would be coming. They just really didn't get it until later when they received the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. They had no idea.
Paul explains it well in Philippians 2:1-11...saying that Christ took on the human form of a slave in full submission and obedience to God the Father. He further encourages us in verses 12 through 18 to show the manifestation of our salvation in faithful service to God with joy!
All those years seeing mom mess with the corns and callouses on her feet -- I didn't get it. I had no idea her feet hurt so badly. I should have paid attention. Ok so what's the point? We're all busy...no matter the time of year. But we need to pray that the Lord helps us see the needs of others no matter how busy we are...to serve others with quiet humility. We are the Lord's ambassadors...His conduit connecting souls to Him.
So in George's ballad, the guy used the chair as a pick up line...not very honorable but it was effective. Mom used what I saw as the ugly chair prize as sweet relief...not pretty but effective. Lord, please allow your Holy Spirit to open our eyes to those who need us. And please help us to act on the "Chair" moments that come our way effectively and to Your glory.
Love till next time,
Lanna
For your consideration: Luke 22:7-29, John 13:1-17 and Phil. 2:1-18.
