To introduce this week I have to paint you a comic book mental image:
On the cover, you see a homely, Cinderella-before-the-ball sort of character, tall, brunette, great hair. She has a confused look on her face as she sits in front of a sewing machine while holding a pan of burnt cookies, and a bucket of cleaning supplies sits beside her completely untouched.
Flying in beside her you see a dashing blonde figure, with a smile, a hot pan of delicious looking homemade bread, a squeaky clean floor gleaming in the background beside a bucket of soapy water, and a basket of clever and completed art projects.
In bold letters flash the words: "Super Wife Shelters The Homeless"
The End..... ha ha!
This week we have had the honor of staying with probably the best wife ever and her very happy husband, that my husband and I call great friends. The dashing blonde figure would be the wife, and that comic book scene is literally what I have walked in the door to almost everyday. She does it all, and to perfection. Their hospitality has been amazing, and her offers to fix breakfast before work, and do our laundry, and invite our city-dog over has been above and beyond. No unhappy city wife here folks.
These amazing gestures have taught me a really painful lesson though... humility. I'm the one that is used to making people feel at home. I mean, I certainly don't do it with the ease that Super-wife does, I quite honestly didn't know a person could bake bread and that it comes without twisty-ties, but I do enjoy hosting a good party and making sure people are happy at my home. I'm the one that offers to do things and help people, laundry is quite possibly my cryptonite, but if a plate needs to be taken, a cup filled, a blanket needed, I'm there man. So being the one it's done to has been difficult for me.
You know, in several accounts it says that Jesus Christ washed the disciples feet the night before His crucifixion. Peter responded like I feel I am now, "No! You will never wash my feet!" Jesus explains that He must and then says something profound as he explained that he is the master, and they are his students, "I am giving you an example to follow." Sometimes it's hard to let yourself be ministered to when you spend so long doing the ministering. But when you stop someone from following the example we've all been called to follow, we're taking away an opportunity for them to minister! The Lord has taken this week to humble his servant, I see that I am no greater than my master, and a sweet wife to who extended her generosity helped me see that.
Week 2 of being homeless: Complete... with clean feet. John 13:6
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