Matthew 20:20-21
Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling
down, asked a favor of him.
"What is it you want?" he asked.
She said, "Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the
other at your left in your kingdom."

When I  first heard the story of this mom who was bold enough to ask Jesus if her two sons could be the ones seated on each side him in Heaven, I remember thinking that she must have been one of "those" moms who always had to have her kids be a starter on the basketball team, a starter on the soccer team, the captain of every club, and the owner of every new "gadget" available for kids their age.

However, I have a different view of this mom now that I have two children in Heaven.  Imagining Nick and Adrienne anywhere EXCEPT right next to Jesus is something I do not want to do.  I want to know that every minute of every day my little baby girl and my sweet son are so close to Jesus that the thought of missing me would not even enter their minds.

There's just something comforting about thinking that they are both in very special chairs in Heaven.

And I just have to believe that somehow God allows each of our family members who have gone before us the opportunity to sit in that special seat AT THE SAME TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

I decided to take a comfy chair to my classroom this year.

On the first day of school, it was quite the conversation piece with the students.

"When can I sit there?  What is that chair for?" were questions I heard off and on all day long.

Well, after thinking about it for a few days, I decided that it was silly to have a special chair if we didn't make it special.....

So......

We had a little drawing and each child has a special day to sit in the special chair every week!!!  (This is definitely one nice thing about only having five students in each class!)  If you had a bigger class, you could easily have a drawing for monthly winners. 

I just can't believe how faithfully the kids have remembered their special day! 

I typed up the rotation schedule and taped it on the shelf next to the chair, but I don't think the kids have ever had to look at it.

If their day is Monday, they are in that chair on Monday; and if their day is Tuesday, you will find them sitting in that special chair before you even have to mention it.....

It makes me smile to see how something so simple has become so special.

I think the offer to be near Jesus is just as simple and SO MUCH MORE SPECIAL!!!!!

We don't even have to wait for our special day!

Jesus wants to sit with us every day..all of us...all the time...

Before I slip off to bed (notice that I am going to bed a little earlier than just a month ago!), I wanted to take a minute to simply tell you all how special you are to me and how special you are to God.

No matter what you're facing in life, never, ever, ever forget that God has your name engraved on the palm of His Hand and He is holding your life safely in that very same Hand! 

Now that's what I call "A VERY SPECIAL CHAIR!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Resting in the Safety of His Hand-MY SPECIAL CHAIR,