Listen

"Little children, I’m with you for a little while longer. You will look for me—but, just as I told the Jewish leaders, I also tell you now—‘Where I’m going, you can’t come.’

“I give you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, so you also must love each other. This is how everyone will know that you are my disciples, when you love each other.”

John 13:33-35

Think

I’ll never forget the first time I participated in a foot washing worship service at church. This Scripture was read as we sat in a circle. We took off our socks and shoes, and we passed a basin of water around the circle to wash each other’s feet.

I was really comfortable being the foot washer, but then it was my turn to receive the foot washing.

I was embarrassed because my feet were really stinky, and lint was stuck between my toes. I was muttering under my breath, apologizing. The woman washing my feet looked up, clasped my hands, paused and said: “You are loved by God.”

What a gift. She extended grace to me in that moment, taking time to see my vulnerability. In turn, I was able to receive her gift of love when she continued to wash my feet, forgetting about the stinky lint for just a moment. Sometimes love looks like seeing someone overlooking stinky feet, and telling them they are loved by God.

How might God be inviting you to show love?

Susan Sytsma Bratt

Pray

Loving God, you accept me and love all of me. Give me hands willing to serve the people I meet. In your son’s name I pray, Amen.

Go

“I do not at all understand the mystery of grace – only that it meets us where we are but does not leave us where it found us.”

Anne Lamott