When I was married? I had a cleaning lady; two of them, to be precise. It was a luxury I allowed myself in the face of four children (at the time! Little did I know that would become six kids) under the age of 8 and homeschooling them. And then I got divorced and thus begun my University of Humility. The one with the cleaning lady.....became one herself.
Three times a week I leave my hearts' home; the school I now work for; and come alongside the few remaining families I've kept in my work load. One family, in particular, has a piece of my heart. They are a homeschooling family with ten kids, only 3 of which remain at home during the day these days. Today was their day for Tamara to come over. I grabbed their broom and loaded up on all things that spray muck away and make it all better and started to the first of four bathrooms, three eager talkers in tow. With my head as close to the toilet as I dared ,I turned to answer the youngest little guy's question and there he stood in an Iron Man costume and a roman soldier helmet. I smiled at him and told him how amazing he looked and he ran off proud.
"And Tamara, what did you wear when you were in school, and Tamara what's your favorite animal, and Tamara, how old are you, and you're that old??! And Tamara, would you rather get eaten by a bear or bitten by a rattlesnake and Tamara look, look at this, come here. There are those days when I just want to get their toilets cleaned and get on with my day. But most days, like this day? Well, as I drove away I pondered in my heart what dropping to my knees in somebody else's bathroom and wiping off the weeks' use has given me.
And surprisingly? It's given me a place to worship the God who loved me enough to bring me to the end of myself and show me what Love can look like in unlikely places.
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