Sharing the Crown

“…How can I let myself be defamed? I will not yield my glory to another.” ~ Isaiah 58:11 (NIV)

As I opened my 4-year-old preschooler’s red folder that had been hiding in his camouflage back pack all weekend, I discovered a cut out crown with glued-on jewels in various feminine colors. The thick paper crown was white and written on it in purple letters (in the teacher’s neatly, printed handwriting) were the words, “My Mom is Queen of the House.”

“Wow!” I said to Bryson, “How sweet!”

As I proudly grabbed a couple of magnets off the refrigerator and found a conspicuous place to display this wonderful recognition of my reigning title, he then said something that totally burst my bubble.

“But you know, Mama, you have to share your crown with Spooky, because she is Queen of the House too!”

“What?” I asked in disbelief. “You mean to tell me that I have to share my crown with a cat???”

Of course, I had to laugh; although, my sweet 4-year-old was completely serious. He had heard me say numerous times that Spooky is Queen of the House, or so she thinks!

How could I be angry? His statement was simply precious.

But it did trigger some thought provoking questions on my part though.

I began to think about how silly it seemed for me to have to share my crown and my title as Queen of the House with our pet.

After all, I am the one who saved her. She came to us as a stray, starving for food and for love. We adopted her, provided her shelter (a rather nice castle for her highness), and have loved her like our own pedigree dog that we purchased as the family Christmas present several years ago.

It would seem absurd that I would have to share my crown with her.

How much more then does God feel disrespected by His child when I expect Him to share His crown with something or someone else?

Whether I'm situating myself on the throne by making life all about me, or if I'm placing something else in His reserved spot – looking for affirmation from other people...leaving the TV on to drown out the quiet when I should embrace that time to be still and hear from Him...Maybe it’s searching the pantry to satisfy my inner void with something crunchy…

Whatever it is, I fear that I do not give Him total reign over my life all the time. I fear that I do not solely let Him wear the crown.

I'm afraid that sometimes I try to share it.

The God of the Universe loved me enough to save me and to adopt me as His own. Everything I am and everything I have is because of Him.

May God be glorified in all that I do! For He alone is worthy to wear the crown! And He will not share!

Lord, Your Word is clear. You will not let Yourself be defamed and You will not yield Your glory to another. You are unwilling to share the crown. Forgive me when I have put other things in Your place – even when I have unknowingly sought to bring glory to myself and have worshiped the idols of our culture. For You, Lord, are King of my House and Lord of my Life.

More Verses:

“Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:14-15 (NIV)

“Yes, LORD, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts.” Isaiah 26:8 (NIV)

“Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty- he is the King of glory.” Psalm 24:10 (NIV)