Landing The Part

Landing the Part

There are many parts, but only one body. . . . Some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary.

1 Corinthians 12:20, 22

Little Tyler was so excited. The director of his summer day camp had announced that the campers would present a play on the last night of the session, and all the children could audition for parts. Tyler wanted so badly to be chosen for one of the parts. He worked hard to learn the lines in the tryout passage. At last he had the lines down perfectly.

Tyler’s mother knew he had his heart set on being chosen for a part in the play, but she was afraid he would not be chosen because he had a slight speech impediment and his speech was not always clear. So, when she dropped Tyler off at camp, she said gently, “Tyler, you know that not everyone can have a part. There just aren’t that many to go around. So don’t get your hopes up too high.”

The auditions were held on Friday; the parts were to be assigned over the weekend, and the cast list would be posted on Monday. By Monday, Tyler was so excited he could hardly wait to get to camp to see whether his name was on the cast list. His mother tried not to think about how disappointed he would be if he did not get a part. After camp that day, she went to pick him up.

Tyler came running to the car looking excited. Then he said some words his mother never forgot: “Hey, Mom, guess what?”

“What, honey?”

“I was chosen for a part!”

“Really? That’s wonderful, honey! What part did you get?”

“I’ve been chosen to clap and cheer!”

Think about it: Even if you play the lead, it’s no fun if there’s no one to clap and cheer when the play is over.

O Lord, thank you for giving special parts to some of us. Help us to be grateful for our gifts and to use those gifts to glorify you. Amen.