I was reminded of this passage from the Gospel of Matthew while composing a title for my last post. As the third and last child of Marion and Tom Walker, all my life I have been the last in everything. I'm always the last to get the phone call wishing me Merry Christmas, last to receive good news, and last to receive bad news.
Since I was elected to help my mother buy a new cell phone last week, I seized the opportunity to be first for a change. Mother's new flip phone had three speed dial buttons on it, and when the clerk said he would program it for her, I told him to make me number 1, Tommy number 2, and Kathy number 3. I secretly thought to myself, "Kathy will just have to learn to be last!"
Two days later my phone rang. "Margie, I didn't mean to call you. I was trying to call Kathy. I forgot you were number 1. I was going to tell her about my visit to Dr. Hester, but I'll just tell you instead." She then proceeded to spend 15 minutes giving me every minor detail. It could have been told in 1 minute.
So Mandy, Ben, and Wes, let this be a lesson. Being last is not always a bad thing! Now if I can just figure out how to reprogram Mema's phone!