Faith: Diva is defined by our service to others

I WAS recently blessed with

my second granddaughter, a beautiful girl named London. My first, also beautiful, is named Keri. When being congratulated, I find myself saying, "Yes, now I have two little divas."

Recognizing that we often throw around terms without knowing their true meaning, I decided to find out what I was calling my granddaughters.

I found that the word "diva" was originally used to describe a woman of rare, outstanding talent. The term derives from an old Italian word meaning "goddess," which, in turn derives from the feminine form of a Latin word divus, meaning "divine one."

Today the word has taken on negative overtones. A pop star labeled "diva" is often thought of as arrogant, difficult to work with, high-maintenance and demanding.

Though not happy with the negative implications, I must admit that babies are naturally high-maintenance and demanding and, yes, the world is supposed to revolve around them.

For the most part, their immediate world does. Mommy, Daddy and grandparents jump at their every whine and whimper. And we love it.

Unfortunately, too many of our young girls today have not moved past babyhood and still expect their immediate world, and beyond, to keep jumping when they reach adolescence.

Sadly, the response from too many parents and guardians is, "How high?"

I pray that my granddaughters will come closer to the original definition of diva, and will be women of rare and outstanding talent.

Patti LuPone, an American singer and actress known for her starring role in "Evita," once said, "The word diva to me means doing something supernatural with something natural."

As Christians, we are often heard saying something similar: God takes ordinary people and accomplishes extraordinary things.

God has created all our babies for greatness, but as Shakespeare said through Hamlet, "Ay, there's the rub."

How do we define greatness?

The Bible says in Matthew 23:11, "He who is greatest among you shall be your servant."

The world determines greatness by how many people serve and honor us. In Jesus, greatness is determined by how we serve and honor others.

Last month, our church had Vacation Bible School, and our young people were taught how to serve family, neighbors, community and the church in Jesus' name.

This year, we took the teaching out of the classroom. We had the children weeding and sweeping the church grounds. Some might look at this as free labor, but we looked at it as teaching a valuable lesson: loving and serving others.

I was encouraged by the response of the parents and grandparents, who may have been planting the first seeds of greatness by seeing serving as a valuable learning tool.

I expect great things from the girls that attended the VBS this year, but it will not be without the help of God's supernatural power.

I probably won't be labeling my granddaughters divas anymore. They will eventually label themselves.

The Bible says we shall be known by our fruit. However, like the parents and grandparents that sent their children to serve at the VBS, I will take every opportunity to introduce my granddaughters to God, who has the power to transform the ordinary to the extraordinary.

As godly parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles and members of the Church, it is our job to cultivate the fruit. How can we do anything less if we are to produce an outstanding crop of young people?

Beverly Dugan-Abel is Sunday-school and nursery teacher at Greater St. Matthew Independent Church on Race Street near 56th in West Philadelphia.