A LAUNDRY LOVER

Believe it or not, I actually enjoy doing laundry. In a physical sense, I like the routine of it, the comfort of hearing the water sloshing and the dryer tumbling (especially in the fall when I can hear the football game in the background). In a spiritual sense, I feel more connected to my family, it fills me with a sense of security, and gives me a feeling of love in the purity in its purpose for me.  I even make my own laundry soap and dryer balls just to show my family how much I care!  Crazy, I know!

It is a constant in life. And, I love the smell and feel of clean clothes! There is fruit in the labor of washing and drying and demonstrating love in this way. I can see the clothing on my husband, my children, my father-in-law. Not instant gratification but almost. I take comfort in the routine, joy in the fruit, and find a sense of purpose and fulfillment in all of it.  Yes, all that from doing one simple task.  But, every once-in-a-while, something creeps in and tries to steal some of my joy.....

The dreaded tissue!  Left in someone's pocket. You just know it was used for something not so clean. Yuk! Hidden in the fabric during the wash and dry cycles only to come out tattered and torn. Of no use to anyone anymore. Scattering its little fragments all over my clean clothes! So annoying and disruptive.

I just went through this scenario yesterday. Remnants of used tissue all over one load of laundry. Oh, not again! So, I sorted, picked and plucked my way through the load to remove it.

In a way, that tissue reminded me of those little fragments of tatteredness in our lives. Those hurts, wounds and the tattered parts of our heart that have never healed. They often surface out of nowhere at the most inconvenient times. They serve no useful purpose other than to remind us of the dreaded parts of our past, convince us that we have more work to do, that we are still not doing life the right way.  We are not clean, fresh, pure. We are still tattered, torn and useless.  When we are with others, we sense our brokenness and just know we will never amount to anything. And, yes, sometimes those tattered places feel more comfortable than the wide open spaces so we retreat believing something that is not Truth.

O Lord my God, I cried out to You, And You healed me. Psalm 30:2

But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. Isaiah 53:5

Our relationship with Christ should be every bit as comforting and joy-filled as a fresh, clean load of laundry. WITH NO TATTERED TISSUES!  He has done the plucking. The work is done. He has washed us clean with His blood and His Word. He gives us a new beginning. He gives us a fresh start, a new mind, and new heart. Every morning! Let Him transform you, keeping your eyes fixed on what lies ahead rather than what you've left behind....

 

In Him, we have no need of the old things. They serve no useful purpose. They just weigh us down and keep us from our usefulness for Him and others.  If anything, we should use them as a reminder of His grace, His mercy, and in motivation to help others.  Therein lies the beauty of brokenness.....

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."  2 Corinthians 5:17

  ^"For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation." Galatians 6:15

Fortunately for us, we are not disposable like a tissue. We are healed and given new life in Him. Claim that promise everyday!  Every time you see that tattered tissue in your own dirty laundry and start to doubt yourself or Him.

“For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth;
And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind." Isaiah 65:17

Your past does not define who you are with Him. He sees you as complete, healed, and whole with Him abiding in your heart. The tattered parts have come together in the beauty of His forgiveness, His love and His grace.  You are nothing but BEAUTIFUL in His eyes!

 He has made EVERYTHING beautiful..... Yes, even YOU!