I need a change-up!

When there is lots of bickering and complaining, whining and unforgiveness, what's a mom to do? Lecture mode was on the tip of my tongue, but I knew tune-out mode would shortly follow. I needed a change from the morning routine and fast! "Lord, help me. I'm despearte for a change-up today." There. In the sink, waiting to be cleaned was the giant tupperware cake holder. "That'll do," I thought. I washed it out, set it aside, ran down to the guest bathroom and grabbed my big yummy, smelling almond bar of soap that has never been used. Creamy white with little designs on it. Very pretty. "That'll work," I thought again, this time cracking a smile. The girls met me in the kitchen at the place we call "the altar." It's a green rug that looks like grass. Sometimes we will pray there or work out arguments there.. for whatever reason, it's a peaceful place when they are sitting on it. I read John 13:7-17 and we talked about what it means to wash someone's feet.

7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” 8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” 9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” 10 Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean. 12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

It seems that the greatest struggles are when we all want our own way. Each child agreed. So, we washed feet. They got their feet dirtied with paint and then took turns washing it off. They wanted to do mine too! What was the most beautiful picture for me to see was the filthiness of the water and the pure white soap in the middle of the yuck. It was such a picture to me of the heart of Jesus. He came to make us clean. To wipe clean the junk and filth we hold on to. An unforgiving heart is softened by forgivenss. Hard hearts become tender. The old is gone. The new has come. Our sins have been washed clean. The change-up in MY plans came at the perfect time... a time that was needed for this despearte mama to see HIS PLAN! Thank You, Lord, for coming to wash us clean; making us pure and new.