Several months ago Ashley was flitting around the house singing everything “Annie.” Our home was filled with songs, dances, scripts and the proud announcement she was trying out for the school musical.

The day the cast list was posted the singing and dancing and rehearsing of the lines stopped.

She hadn’t gotten a part in the play.

There was a smile and a quick, “Who cares,” that hid a thousand tears daring to flood the scene if she said much more.

But a few days later, the director did request that Ashley and one of her parents attend the all cast meeting where Ashley was told she’d been given the job of student director. That sounded exciting until the director explained that job basically meant Ashley would be a behind the scenes errand runner for her and the cast.

There would be no shining moment.

There would be no spot light

There would be no audience applause for her performance.

Just hours and hours of behind the scenes work.

As a parent, I could see the character building potential. I have done my fair share of behind the scenes stuff in life and it helped shape me for the better. I get that. But to a middle school heart who loves to sing and dance, it was hard.

We went home that night and Ashley toyed with the idea of dropping out. And I let her toy with this idea. But by the next morning, Ashley surprised me by deciding she would embrace this role of serving.

And embrace it she has! It turns out Ashley has quite the knack for choreography, set design and a keen sense of how to make scenes flow more smoothly. The director quickly found Ashley to be quite capable and turned over many responsibilities to this little sprite of a girl.

What once seemed like a huge disappointment became a gift of revelation. Ashley was born to be a leader. Put her in the right environment to lead and she’ll thrive.

I asked Ashley the other day what she thought of this whole experience. She beamed and said, “I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else than the role I’ve been given Mom. I love being the student director. I love it so much.”

Later this month, the curtain will fall to the thunderous applause of proud parents cheering for their child’s performance. And though I won’t see my little brown eyed beauty, I know she’ll be bossing somebody backstage and I’ll be clapping like crazy while letting out a few hoots that will embarrass the fool out of my other kids.

And when the mama sitting next to me leans over and says which one is yours? I’ll reply back, “the one who is right where she should be.”

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,” (Colossians 3:23).

What disappointment are you processing today? How might this be a gift in the making? What assignment might God have right in front of you that He wants you to fully embrace today?

Lysa
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