Daily Wisdom for Women - March 12, 2023

 March 12, 2023 - All Clean!  "Soak me in your laundry and I'll come out clean, scrub me and I'll have a snow-white life."  Psalm 51: 7-8

We were just talking about laundry.  We got together with Gary's two sisters and their husbands to celebrate one sister's birthday.  The discussion drifted in many directions, but one topic was the chores their mother had for them to do on Saturday mornings.  The absent younger brother had stated several times that to this day he has never done any laundry.  Ever.  Not at home when growing up.  Not in college.  Not since he and his wife have been married.  Never.    

I don't mind doing the laundry.  I like to sort whites and like colors.  Maybe it's something that I just like to do because no one else in our family seems to mind tossing everything in the washer together.  Gary.  Megan. Hilary.  I also pull things out of the washer to hang up to dry instead of tossing everything in the dryer.  Actually I was thrilled when I saw the laundry room in the new house because there was a rod already in place for hanging up clothes to dry.  No more hanging them in the living room on the edge of the shadowbox!  

Therefore, when I read the devotion today, I was intrigued because we had just discussed laundry. While the conversation never drifted to stain removal, I know all too well how a dropped splot of spaghetti sauce can permanently ruin a white sweater (re: dorm life at ISU) or how a grease spot on the front of a sweatshirt no matter how many times Shout is sprayed on it.  I like the analogy of the 'dark splotches' that can cling to our lives---anger and hatred and shame in our hearts.  Try as hard as can, apply Shout to those stubborn stains, and they still linger.  It is good to know (and remember) that God does indeed have that all-purpose cleaner that will soak us in forgiveness.  How wonderful is that!  I am so thankful that He can cleanse us of our sins, our anger, our hatred, the shame in our hearts and that we can be given a fresh start and a snow-white life.  It's time to quit beating myself up about things that I remember from the past and start over because I remember that God has given me a fresh start!

 

Father, thank you for your unlimited forgiveness.  Please help me see myself the way you see me.  Amen.