Thursday, May 14, 2015

"Laundered Once/Forever Clean" - 05/14/15 - Psalm 32, 51, 86, 122






Generous in love—God, give grace! Huge in mercy—wipe out my bad record.
Scrub away my guilt,
soak out my sins in your laundry.
I know how bad I've been;
my sins are staring me down. (Psalm 51:1-3)








I can remember when I was little, going into the basement with my mom and watching her do laundry.  She had the old wringer type of washing machine.  I remember how red her hands were from the hot water, sweat on her face and the dirty clothes. 

For many years there were the old cloth diapers along with our other clothes. 

Even though she would soak them in the diaper pail, they were still in need of washing.  She had to reach into that nasty, dirty, water and pull them out one by one.  Wringing them out and putting them into the washer.  They were stained yellow and brown from the messes my sisters had made in them. 

Ugly and smelly. 

After they went through the wash cycle, she would then have to reach in and take them out one by one.  Putting them through the wringer to extract as much water from them as possible so they would dry quicker on the line.  This was before they had a dryer and no matter the weather, they had to be  hung out to dry.  Sometimes in the winter they would freeze and she would bring them in to hang on chairs, a line strung up between doorways, to thaw out. 

And almost every time after washing, wringing, and drying - they came out white as snow. 

Today, I enjoy doing laundry, perhaps because we have the modern day washer/dryer set.  When Adam was little, we used the cloth diapers and they usually came out looking new.   I still did and do use my clothes lines whenever the weather permits.  There is something in me which enjoys the taking of a dirty garment, getting it clean, hanging it on the line and smelling that wonderful outdoors scent as I take it down and fold it, putting it away for the next time. 

I know when my ABBA is "doing my dirty laundry" - it isn't something He delights in.  I know He had to give me The Blood of His only Son to wipe away the stains and dirt from my sins which covered me.  I can still see my mom's chapped, red hands and know my Christ became bruised and bloody as He was the cleansing power of my "dirty laundry". 

I also know without a doubt my ABBA enjoys taking me into Him, drawing in the sweet, clean smell I offer up to Him.  I know without a doubt His hands tenderly fold me into being the garment I need to be for Him.  I know without a doubt He is readying me for "the next time" when He needs me to be used for Him. 

I also know without a doubt, I have been "washed whiter than snow".

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