Mother's day reflections...

I have a confession to make: I really love doing dishes.

This little “quirk” of mine completely baffles my roommates. They are incapable of comprehending the absolute joy that I receive when a mound of dirty dishes is transformed into a neat pile of clean ones. They don’t even try to hide their amazement when I actually ask them to let me do the dishes after dinner.

As much as I try to explain the possible reasons when I enjoy doing dishes so much, they just don’t understand....(but they certainly appreciate it!).

However, as I’ve been thinking through the reasons why I really do love doing dishes, I think the reason is so much deeper than just my love for a clean kitchen and warm soapy water.

I love washing dishes because my mom loves washing dishes.

And my mom loves washing dishes because she loves J*s*s.

Some of my favorite memories with my mom are not the big “momentous” ones, but the normal everyday ones....like doing dishes together.

Growing up, I remember coming downstairs to our kitchen in search of a late-night snack to find my mom washing dishes. Almost always, she would have some form of w*rship music playing and many times, I would find her with tears in her eyes and pr*yers for her family upon her lips.

Washing dishes was (and continues to be) so much more than a nightly after-dinner duty for my mom. It was an opportunity to w*rship her G*d and glorify Him through a seemingly-menial task such as doing dishes.

The past few years, I have been blessed to be able to be home for a few months during school breaks and holidays. During my time at home, I’ve enjoyed joining my mom in her nightly “washing dishes” w*rship time. It has been a wonderful time to talk with each other about the L*rd and belt out worship songs to Him with our not-always-on-tune voices.

However, after being home for a few weeks, the nostalgia of doing dishes together would always begin to wear off for me. How can you do this everyday? The dishes - the housework - it never ends!

One evening, while washing dishes together, I asked my Mom this. And I will never forget her response.

“Sure, it can seem menial. You can easily begin to hate housework and view it as a burden. But I’ve asked the L*rd to help me to see it as a privilege to serve my family in these little things. And He has. I don’t necessarily love dishes. But I love J*s*s, and I love my family. When I serve you all in His name, I’m serving Him. And there is great joy in that.”

Although my mom has taught me a great deal over the years, this is the one lesson that continues to resonate in my heart: there is joy when you choose to serve and be faithful in the seemingly small things....like washing dishes. Because G*d is in the small things.

This lesson has been a constant encouragement to me here in China. I must confess that there are many days when I ask myself if its worth it. Is G*d using me? Does anyone even care what happens inside my little classroom? Does He care?

But then, I come home....and I wash dishes.

And as my hands become wrinkled by the warm water and soapy bubbles, I remember my mom. And I remember that He is in the “small” things.

Like washing dishes.

And like teaching 107 kindergartners English in China.

No, it may not seem super-significant to the outside world. But it is significant. Because  this is the m*nistry He has called me to be faithful to.

And He is worth it. He is infinitely worth it.

So I guess when I think about it, I don’t love washing dishes for the sake of washing dishes. I love washing dishes because it reminds me of my Mom. And her faithfulness in the seemingly-small things.

And I am encouraged to be faithful in the small things, because when I serve someone in His name - whether my roommates or my crazy and cute students - I’m serving Him.

And there is great joy in that.