Cleansing and Clothing: How Jesus is the Best Home Health Aide

As she holds out her arms, I pull the sleeves up just past her elbows, with a swift and gentle movement, I slip the neck of the shirt over her head, and then I carefully straighten it out, smoothing out the shoulders.  Her tired, weary frame straightens ever so slightly.  Her head that had hung heavy lifted up.  Eyes previously half-closed now looked at me – wide open and bright.  She rarely speaks, but those eyes of hers say it all: Thank you. 

It’s the same routine every time.  I help this client get cleaned up and dressed for the day.  And when we're done, she perks up - more awake, more alert, refreshed – always.  I smile at her, this beautiful woman in front of me, my heart full.

When I first began working as a home health aide I knew that this was an opportunity to love, serve, and be the hands and feet of Jesus.  I knew it wouldn’t be easy.  I knew it wouldn’t be clean.  And I knew my Heavenly Papa would provide me with all that I needed to meet their needs.  Wisdom, strength, joy, love, and a willingness to serve day after day?  They are all gifts from Him.  I knew all of this from remembering God’s faithfulness to provide in previous situations and work environments. 

But our God is a good and gracious One – One who just doesn’t stop.  He is relentless; always pursuing a deeper, more meaningful relationship, desiring to bless us, grow us, and teach us something new.  And today He opened my eyes to the Truths that He wants me to remember during my usual morning routine with one of my clients. 

It didn’t really hit me like a ton of bricks, as some Truths have done.  Instead, it weaved its way slowly into my heart. I didn’t become aware of it until hours later, as I was pouring steaming water into my mug, watching the tea bag twirl and sway.  The scene replayed in my mind.  Her spine straightening, the lifting of her head, and eyes opening – it’s after the washing up and getting dressed.  I wondered why I was thinking of it.  How many days have I done this?  Why continue to think of it now that I’m home?  I watch the thick honey as it drips down into my tea.  Why is this sticking with me?  I strike a match to light a candle.  And the embers catch fire in my heart and the Truth sets blaze.  I see what it is He wants me to know today – and all days.

I, too, was once weary, broken down, tired, my eyes blinded – thick scales covering them.  And then, my amazing Savior came to me – and He cleansed me – His precious blood shed on the cross washed away my dirty sins.  And He didn’t stop there.  He didn’t just clean me up.  Though that’s enough to sing praise!  He then clothed me with His righteousness.  My identity is now in Him.  And so, because of what Christ has done for me, I have the freedom to stand up straighter, my head no longer needs to hang in defeat, my eyes can be wide open – taking in the glimpses of God’s glory here on earth. 

Praise be to the God who pursues.  The One who has cleansed us.  The Lord who drapes His own robes of righteousness around our rickety shoulders – providing us with new life: His very own.  And I think of my client – how she doesn’t speak much, but I can see the thanks in her eyes - each and every time.  The Lord has grown me much in the area of giving thanks over the course of this past year or so (through reading A Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp, a small group on the very same book, and the times of prayer and journaling through the cancer battle last year).  But oh, how I needed the reminder to give thanks for this. 

If you have been cleansed by the redeeming blood of Christ and clothed in His righteousness, dear friend, how often do you give thanks for this amazing gift?  Let us wake up to the goodness of our Heavenly Father.  Let us stand taller, lift our heads, open our eyes, and give thanks.  And if you haven’t, dear friend?  If you don’t know the gentle touch of a loving Savior?  I implore you to call out from your weary, broken state – call to the One who alone cleanses and clothes in a way that will last for eternity.  He is glorious and worthy of all praise – for He is a God who humbled Himself to get involved personally with your needs – and He knew it’d be hard and messy.  But oh, He embraced it, for He longs to embrace you.

“I will greatly rejoice in the LORD; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.” ~ Isaiah 61:10

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.  All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us.  We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.  For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” ~ 2 Corinthians 5:17-21