All I Do is Dishes...

I stood at the kitchen sink this morning, staring down the pile. I let out a huge sigh and began the drudgerous work. The saucepan that I used last night to warm soup. The brownie pan that was still half-full of brownies- that just had to get out of my house. The half-dozen bottles that Caleb drank yesterday. The half-dozen cereal bowls that came from, well- I'm not sure exactly how 2 people can use so many bowls.... And all the other odds and ends that land in the kitchen sink.

Halfway through the chore, I thought to myself, "Is this what my life has become? Did I go to a university for 4 years, graduate with honors to do dishes? Didn't I just do all of this yesterday? And the day before that... And the day before that? Won't I do this again tomorrow?" Those thoughts are enough to make an otherwise sensible person go insane.

I took a deep breath, stared down the dishes, and thought about the little hands that hold the bottles and the sweet man who uses all those bowls. Perhaps I am the least of these.

Jesus would do the dishes. He washed the disciples feet. He would wash all the utensils, too. Doing the dishes (or the laundry, or the diaper changes or the yardwork or the whatever...) is not a menial task. It is not unimportant. It is not unseen.

Our Father in heaven looks down upon us and smiles for our faithfulness and our selflessness. It's what His Son would do.

Now go, and do the dishes, and rejoice. For the Father who loves you and the dear mess-makers He has given to you.