So the other day my mop head broke. I kept thinking I would buy a new one but whenever I was out shopping I would forget. Been there? Anyway, my floor became so terrible, I couldn't take it anymore. I got out the 'ole mop bucket and a rag, and began scrubbing the floor Cinderella style. Yep. Fun times.
As I was "mopping" the floor, I began to look around me. I was now on a lower level with the cabinets and doors. I knew they needed to be wiped down, but being down on that level with the advantage of a closer look, I saw more dirt than I had while standing. I began to wipe down the doors and cabinets as I cleaned the floor as well. Took me a while, but wow what a difference. The kitchen as a whole just looked cleaner...because I had reached those seemingly out of sight spots and smears that I hadn't really taken notice of until I was down on my hands and knees.
I began to really ponder this in my own life. How many times have I "looked down" on someone, thinking I see the whole picture, when in truth if I would just humble myself and meet them at their level, not only would my vision be much clearer, I am more available to help them with those spots and smears life can hand us all. Haven't we all been there?
What a beautiful example Christ set for us on this very topic:
"Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness." -Philippians 2:6-7 NIV
What a beautiful picture. Christ left his comfy, wonderful, beautiful eternity to meet us at our level. And not only that, he took on our spots and smears: "He humbled himself by becoming obedient to death-even death on a cross!" -Philippians 2:8
So what does this look like for us? We are given the answer in Philippians 2:5, the verse that directly precedes the above description of what Christ did for us:
"In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: "
Ladies, did you know that the #1 disease in women is depression because of lonliness? LONLINESS! What a simple fix...and yet, so difficult. Could it be that we are not getting down on each other's levels enough? I think it could be a good possibility. We are so quick to judge each other, our decisions, our walks of life, our interests, clothes, diets, children, husbands, denominations, and personal challenges that instead of choosing understanding and compassion, we choose to "stand above". WE have something to TEACH the one who doesn't know as much as we do, right?!
No ladies!!! CHRIST has someone to REACH through us. If we can get our "know it all" selves out of the way, Christ can use us to lead someone ever closer to HIM, HIS comfort, HIS wisdom, HIS compassion and forgiveness. Just as Christ gave up His rights and became a servant of all, likewise we should also give up our perceived rights to be "right" and, just maybe, try loving instead. Let us "carry one another's burdens and fulfill the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:2).
A challenge this week: Get down on your hands and knees with someone this week. Fervently pray for compassion, wisdom, discernment, understanding and love to guide us and our relationships. And maybe be willing to throw the mop bucket of dirty water filled with judgment and criticism down the drain.
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