This One's Mine

My first year teaching in Texas, I was introduced to the concept of a Silent Auction during the annual spring fundraising carnival. Teachers are put up for auction at this fundraiser. Well, I guess we weren't actually going to the highest bidder. Instead, what we offered in return for the highest bid was to spend time with our students.

The whole idea frightened me. What if none of my students bid on spending time with me? How horrible would that be? Filled with trepidation, I nonchalantly wandered through the Silent Auction area before heading to the volunteer post I had at the time. Relief filled my soul when I saw someone had indeed placed a bid on the sheet with my name on it, which offered a day of bowling with a friend of their choice, and me. The student was McKenzie.

Throughout the day I checked my sheet and noticed whenever someone other than McKenzie placed a bid, her name appeared immediately beneath it with a higher bid. At some point in the day, as I wandered through the Silent Auction area, I noticed McKenzie standing next to my sheet.

After it was announced McKenzie won the highest bid for the outing, her mother approached. I told her I was glad McKenzie won, and looked forward to our time together. She told me the last time McKenzie asked to up her bid, she'd told her an amount, and said that was as high as she'd go. She went on to explain that once McKenzie wrote the final bid, the third grader wouldn't budge from the sheet. Instead, she placed her hand over my name, and turned all other bidders away saying, "This one's mine."

I almost brought tears to my eyes when I realized spending time with me was so important, so valuable, to my little third grader that she was willing to forego experiencing all the joy and excitement of the carnival to protect her time with me. As I thought about this scene from almost eighteen years ago, I remembered someone else who said, "This one's mine." Jesus.

Each time Jesus stands before his Father in heaven pleading our case on our behalf, he puts his hand on the Book of Life where our name is written and boldly proclaims, "This one's mine." 

Jesus paid a high price to spend time with us. He left his throne in glory to come to earth and live among his creation. He willingly allowed himself to be treated as the worst of criminals, tortured, and crucified for me. For you. Just so he could say of us, "This one's mine."

Jesus sacrificed his all so he could spend time with us.

How much are we willing to sacrifice to spend time with him?

"We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek" Hebrews 6:19-20 (NIV).

To hear more from Sandy, visit her blog at www.sandykirbyquandt.com.