Can I wash your feet?
Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. John 13:14-15
It's been a long day. I'm tired.
Nothing really crazy has happened today, just a lot of running around and a lot of "stuff".
Did I mention I am tired?
Many times today I lost my cool with my kids. Not always verbally, some of the times, in my head. Several times I had a snarky response in my head when my child asked me for the eighteenth time the same question. I had enough control not to say what I was thinking. But, I didn't have enough control to not think what I was thinking. Following me here?
Okay good.
As I cleaned up the last of the dishes, I had a terrible attitude. I just wanted to sit down, paint my toenails and bury myself in my new Real Simple magazine.
Well, that didn't happen.
So, here I am. Typing away. My release. My way of unwinding after a long day at the "office".
Something did happen though that caught my attention. It almost made me burst into a puddle of tears. [I said "almost". I can maintain some control of my tears. Well, kind of. Well, not really]
As I sat down to eat my dinner, I grabbed my bible to glean something. Anything. This momma was dreary. I needed a God-pick-me-up. Know what I mean? I needed a word. From Him. My Father.
The boys were eating in the den watching golf. And the girl was at a friend's house. So, there I sat. By myself at the bar in my kitchen. Dreary and just wanting a little refreshment.
I opened straight to the story of Jesus washing His Disciples feet.
I read the passage. I read it again.
Jesus was doing the dirty work. The work that nobody wanted to do.
Jesus was ministering to His friends, even knowing He was about to die for them.
Who does that?
Well, Jesus does.
I thought of my bad attitude. I thought of my discontment that day. I thought of my grumbling heart.
Then, I thought of Jesus.
Bent down on the floor, washing the feet of His friends. Even washing the feet of Judas, the friend who would betray Him. Jesus knew that Judas would betray Him, and He washed his smelly feet anyway.
Who does this?
Well, Jesus does.
My attitude changed in an instant.
What was I so sulky about?
Jesus knew the hour was coming for His death on the Cross, and yet He served. He washed feet. He loved the horribly unlovable.
I could barely swallow my meal thinking of these events. Humbling to say the least.
My flesh gets weary from serving. My flesh gets weary from loving those that are not loveable. I don't like this feeling. I just want to feel comfortable and not deal with people some days. Can I just be real and say that?
How many times do I have to turn the other cheek, Lord? How many times do I have to tape my mouth shut when I am dying to strike back with anger and pride?
How many times do I have to do the exact opposite of what my flesh is begging me to do? How many, Lord?
Yet, as I read that story one more time....I realized something.
He washed my feet that same day. He served me that same day. He died on the cross for me, that same day.
What He did for them, He did for me.
For the record-- now I am officially squalling my eyes out. [yay]
Sometimes, I just need a reminder. A reminder of His love for me. When the world around me seems foreign, distant, and cold...
He reminds me of His Love. His never-ending Grace.
Gosh, He blows me away. Who in the world loves like that and gives grace like that?
Well, Jesus does.
Lord, give me a heart like Yours to Love like YOU!
Lord, give me a heart like Yours to Serve like YOU!
This is my desire. More than anything else in this big ol' world.
looking for feet to wash,
jill
It's been a long day. I'm tired.
Nothing really crazy has happened today, just a lot of running around and a lot of "stuff".
Did I mention I am tired?
Many times today I lost my cool with my kids. Not always verbally, some of the times, in my head. Several times I had a snarky response in my head when my child asked me for the eighteenth time the same question. I had enough control not to say what I was thinking. But, I didn't have enough control to not think what I was thinking. Following me here?
Okay good.
As I cleaned up the last of the dishes, I had a terrible attitude. I just wanted to sit down, paint my toenails and bury myself in my new Real Simple magazine.
Well, that didn't happen.
So, here I am. Typing away. My release. My way of unwinding after a long day at the "office".
Something did happen though that caught my attention. It almost made me burst into a puddle of tears. [I said "almost". I can maintain some control of my tears. Well, kind of. Well, not really]
As I sat down to eat my dinner, I grabbed my bible to glean something. Anything. This momma was dreary. I needed a God-pick-me-up. Know what I mean? I needed a word. From Him. My Father.
The boys were eating in the den watching golf. And the girl was at a friend's house. So, there I sat. By myself at the bar in my kitchen. Dreary and just wanting a little refreshment.
I opened straight to the story of Jesus washing His Disciples feet.
I read the passage. I read it again.
Jesus was doing the dirty work. The work that nobody wanted to do.
Jesus was ministering to His friends, even knowing He was about to die for them.
Who does that?
Well, Jesus does.
I thought of my bad attitude. I thought of my discontment that day. I thought of my grumbling heart.
Then, I thought of Jesus.
Bent down on the floor, washing the feet of His friends. Even washing the feet of Judas, the friend who would betray Him. Jesus knew that Judas would betray Him, and He washed his smelly feet anyway.
Who does this?
Well, Jesus does.
My attitude changed in an instant.
What was I so sulky about?
Jesus knew the hour was coming for His death on the Cross, and yet He served. He washed feet. He loved the horribly unlovable.
I could barely swallow my meal thinking of these events. Humbling to say the least.
My flesh gets weary from serving. My flesh gets weary from loving those that are not loveable. I don't like this feeling. I just want to feel comfortable and not deal with people some days. Can I just be real and say that?
How many times do I have to turn the other cheek, Lord? How many times do I have to tape my mouth shut when I am dying to strike back with anger and pride?
How many times do I have to do the exact opposite of what my flesh is begging me to do? How many, Lord?
Yet, as I read that story one more time....I realized something.
He washed my feet that same day. He served me that same day. He died on the cross for me, that same day.
What He did for them, He did for me.
For the record-- now I am officially squalling my eyes out. [yay]
Sometimes, I just need a reminder. A reminder of His love for me. When the world around me seems foreign, distant, and cold...
He reminds me of His Love. His never-ending Grace.
Gosh, He blows me away. Who in the world loves like that and gives grace like that?
Well, Jesus does.
Lord, give me a heart like Yours to Love like YOU!
Lord, give me a heart like Yours to Serve like YOU!
This is my desire. More than anything else in this big ol' world.
looking for feet to wash,
jill
