“Mama, can you wash my foot?”

A Little Lent Reflection

Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast brought perfect praise.-Matthew 21:16

It was a typical busy morning with my kids. I had just finished slinging pancakes, slipping a whole one through my pre teen’s door before cutting the rest up into little bite-sized pieces and leaving a dollop of maple syrup in the smallest wedge of the divided plastic plates.

With the calvary distracted by breakfast, I finally had my chance. I grabbed my coffee and my copy of that month’s Magnificat and headed to the dining room. I settled at the table, out of the splash-zone of the eat-in kitchen table where my toddlers dipped their morsels and slurped down milk. 

The readings contained the story of Mary Magdalene who showed her love for Jesus by using her hair to bathe his feet in her tears. Magdalene has always held a special place in my heart. Not only is she often misunderstood, but she believed in Jesus’ power to forgive and to heal.

In turn, he not only saved her but allowed her to be the harbinger of His glorious resurrection. I swooned at her intense display of devotion, imagining the sights and sounds of washing the feet of Jesus in such a posture of humility. My soul whispered to Jesus,

“I’d do the same Lord, if you were here with me right now.” 

Not a moment later, my youngest daughter, Claire, called out to me. It annoyed me to find that she, and her food, were no longer in the kitchen. I followed her small voice and found her in her bedroom with her breakfast plate. She had brought it along to play with her toys and left it on the floor. She looked up at me through her auburn hair, syrup-covered foot in hand and said, 

“Mama, can you wash my foot?” 

I couldn’t help but laugh out loud! God is so intentional, even in the smallest of things. My soul brightened and goose bumps formed on my arms. I knew it was His way of telling me that He was here with me. That my own intense display of devotion, was caring for my family every day.