Washing Feet

This week, I had a touching experience I wanted to share.

The girls were playing outside, neither with shoes. They wandered into the lot next to us (they do this often, because it is empty and no one has bought it yet) to pick the weed flowers. As they wandered farther, they came into a patch of little pricklies and, because they were barefoot, got stuck.

I came and rescued them, but they already had pokies and slivers all over the bottoms of their cute little feet. I pulled them out of Parker's feet (the poor thing, it hurt and she did not want me to do it) while Ashtyn got most of them out of hers.

When I took them inside, their feet were still hurting, so I mixed together lavender and coconut oil to help. Before putting it on their sores, though, I had to get the dirt off. I took a wet rag and gently wiped the dirt away, putting the lavender on and then snuggling them.

As I washed the dirt off their feet, I couldn't help but draw the parallel to Jesus washing the feet of his disciples. As this thought came to mind, I was instantly filled with the Spirit telling me that what I am doing now matters.

I have had a rough time of it, emotionally, lately. I have been feeling overwhelmed and tired, feeling that I have not been my best as a mother.

As I washed their feet, though, and helped them through this rough little experience for them, I caught a glimpse of the importance of mothers.

I am not a perfect mother. I get impatient and don't always react the way I want. I let them watch too much TV at times and sometimes their breakfast consists of an apple with a string cheese because that's what they can get themselves. I see my flaws and I know I want to be a better mother, but it isn't always something I can do.

But I know that both my girls know I love them. I know they come to me when they need something and I know I am doing my best. A lot of the things I worry about don't matter.

What does matter is how I love them and how I let them feel God's love through me. And sometimes, that's as simple as washing their feet.