The Jester

The other day as I was coming out of my room, wearing my Spongebob PJs (yes, it is true and maybe a little sad for a 40ish guy) and slippers, I shuffled straight to the coffee pot. Aliya spotted my lumbering form and perked up “Hey Dad could you make me some breakfast? Can you make me some eggs?” I stopped and looked at her still trying to see through the fog of just getting up without the morning caffeine running through my blood. She continued, “Can you make some for Mom too – cause she’s the Queen, and you are…” She paused and thought for a brief moment, “…well – the Jester.” She giggled at her own summation of my role in this family. Great! I was expecting of course to be the King. Every man likes to think that he is the king of his castle, with the full measure of respect and authority from his loyal subjects (children and any pets) and devoted and lovely Queen (wife). My fantasy bubble burst into a mist that dissipated into thin air.

Sometimes life throws a sharp and pointed dart in our direction. When it hits the fragile bubble of ego and self-perception, we feel the penetrating sting of defeat and deflation. We all have hopes and dreams and a perception of who we are. We might define it by: our education, the books we read, the knowledge we treasure, the jobs we work, the people we hang out with, our family, the amount in our bank accounts, the stuff we have (cars, homes, etc), the music we listen too, and even in the clothes we wear. In our self-perception we have all had, and will have, those days where we feel the sting of a well aimed dart (i.e. relationship strife, unemployment, perceived failure).

How do we respond when we feel disappointed, unsuccessful, and frustrated in those “bubble bursting” moments? Do we quit? Give up or go sit and stew in self pity? Sometimes yes, but we can’t linger there. Life continues and we have a critical role in our home, church, workplace and community. The first step is to remember who we are. We are a child of The King, a prince and princess, a joint-heir with Christ with full access and privilege to our Father in Heaven.

“If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise…so you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.” – Galatians 3:29 & 4:7

The second step is to protect the bubble by daily putting on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:11-17).

“In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” – Ephesians 6:16

When your bubble is burst and you find out that you are the Jester instead of the King, don’t slump into the bog of discouragement, but remember your identity is in Christ and to stand firm in the faith and life God has called you to. To Aliya, “Yes, the Jester can make you some eggs, and I might crack one over your head just to get a laugh.”