Prodigal: Sometimes it is a tough day.

Me: How so?

Prodigal: It’s the kinda day that my britches are gettin’ caught on my own pitchfork.

Me: I know those kinda days.

This is from the book Voices of the Faithful by Beth Moore

My dining room table has a small, decorative groove that circles the entire table. It looks nice, but just as with all small ruts, it collects crumbs that fall in the groove. Sometimes, when I have company, I will put a tablecloth on the table. This keeps the crumbs from getting into the groove and covers any crumbs that I didn’t clean before. Sometimes, though, I will use a lacy tablecloth that has small openings, and sure enough, crumbs get through to the groove until I decide to clean again.

For my regular cleanings, I wipe off the table, wash it and polish it. Sometimes, though, I look closely and decide that it’s time for the scrub brush to really dig deep into the groove.

Thinking about this table, I can easily make a parallel to my own life. Some sins I will instantly recognize that I need to confess and repent from. Sometimes my armor is solid, and my spirit is protected against sin and temptation. However, at times my armor has tiny openings that let sin through. These crumbs may not be overt sin but rather a general acceptance of worldly ways, without questioning them in light of God’s Word and God’s values. That’s when God tells me that it’s time for me to look at the groove in my life in order to scrub away the sin. The days with the scrub brush may be rough, but afterward, I feel clean.

Betty, Central and Eastern Europe

Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Jesus said to him, “He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean.” John 13:8b