Dirty Laundry

I stank, you’ins!! (You’ins… that’s how they talk up here) After 3 months of wearing the same clothes with few washings, there are some things that soap just can’t help. My socks, for instance… Holy disgustingness!! I can’t stand my own wretched stench. Often times I’ll get a whiff: “What’s that sm….. oh, right. That would be me that smells.” (*Crosses arms and legs and folds into a ball in an attempt to minimize the odor)

While clothes can be cleaned-ish, there’s another type of dirt that’s much deeper, painful and harder to get clean.

Now prepare yourself. Here she goes… she’s gonna talk about Jesus, again.

Everyday I fall short. Whether in my words, my actions, my intentions or my attitude. I can’t seem to get it right. I fall so short of the perfection of Jesus, that I sometimes feel like I’m not worthy of His love or His forgiveness.

But, that’s where I have it wrong. His ultimate sacrifice defeats the purpose, if I fail to use His gift of grace. He takes those wrongs, displays them upon Himself and makes me right in the eyes of God. What a perfect gift!

I think of it like doing stanky laundry: I gather up all the soiled thoughts, burdens, actions, and crumminess that make me feel undeserving. I wide-arm carry all of that filthiness to the feet of Jesus-where He’s the washer of sins, dryer of mercy, permanent presser of love, ironer of grace, and folder of forgiveness. What’s left is neat and clean perfection…Until I mess it all up again.

Listen, I’m not even close to being a perfect Christian and I fail over and over again, but there is so much room to do it right or better the next time! There’s room for you, for me, for our friends and our enemies.

It’s hard to get past the guilt and reach full forgiveness in our own eyes. So what do we do to feel truly forgiven? For me, I’ve learned to start by forgiving others first.

The hardest prayer I’ve ever prayed was that my ex husband would be a loving husband for his new wife; that he’d be a caring and attentive father to his new child. Through gritted teeth, it sounded hateful the first hundred times it came from my lips. But over time, that prayer became legitimate and brought me to where I am today. I want him to feel forgiven just as I want that gift when I fail. That grace is offered to me from Jesus giving his life and is no different for my ex.

If I can get to that place where I can forgive others that have wronged me, then my own shortcomings might just be forgivable too.

So wash your hands of the lie that you’re too far gone or not good enough or you messed up…again and it’s over.

Forgiveness is waiting for you in all its’ Gain-scented glory!