Don’t Settle for Seconds

You wouldn’t know it now, but there was a time when my middle sister was easily intimidated. This is ancient history, but during our entire growing up years, the one they nicknamed Pretty Woman, didn’t like to go anywhere unless I went with her. As a teenager, if I arrived somewhere first, Rhonda always wanted me to wait at the door so she could go in with me, only she meant behind me. Yours truly, the youngest of the three girls in our family, entered every room with Rhonda walking so closely behind me that we were likely to fall like dominos if I stopped too quickly.

It didn’t make sense. Rhonda, AKA, Pretty Woman had the type of looks with her long blond hair and pretty blue eyes that people are naturally inclined to respond to positively. I, on the other hand, was the brunette with the hoot owl glasses and speech impediment that lasted well into my adolescent years. Some would say that speech defect still lingers, and I would forgive them for that. Granted, any such reasoning was lost on Rhonda. She simply didn’t feel confident going in alone.

It’s sad to think of how many people will spend their lives as dependent on other people for a taste of God as Rhonda was on me for moral support all those years ago. “Pray for me,” they’ll say, attaching little worth to their own efforts at reaching the throne. “I’m not as strong as you are,” they’ll say to their pastor, teacher, or friend, able to think only of their own shortcomings. Meanwhile, unprecedented, privileged access to God’s throne, secured through the blood of Jesus, is available to anyone willing to bend their knee before Him. We’re welcome there time and again, in the very same way, through the favor of His beloved son. The opportunity isn’t secured through any merit of our own, but to all who believe, Jesus calls from His seat at Father’s right hand, “You woke up worthy, I’ll meet you at the door.”

Hugs,
Shellie