By Rae Lynn DeAngelis
I took an impromptu trip to Florida so I could help mom move dad into an assisted living facility. Dad had become increasingly unstable on his feet and needed more care than my 84-year-old mom could provide. Alzheimer’s is a terrible disease. Over the course of several years, I’ve watched my dad go from being a technology aficionado to no longer knowing how to dial a phone. It’s heartbreaking.
The morning before we took dad to his new home, I spent some time talking with him about the good old days, sharing stories from my own recollections, hoping to jar dad’s memory with happy thoughts. I was surprised by how much he remembered from way back. It was good for both of us to look in the rearview mirror and count the blessings of God. As we reminisced, I was reminded of how many things dad taught me over the years. Oddly, two lessons rise above the rest.
Lesson #1 How to wash my body – When I was old enough to take a shower, dad put on swim trunks and gave me step by step instructions.
• Soap up the body
• Rinse
• Wash the face
• Rinse
• Shampoo
• Rinse
• Semi-dry with the wash cloth
• Fully-dry with the towel
Lesson #2 How to wash my car – I’m pretty sure we both wore swimsuits this time.
• Soap up the body of the car
• Rinse
• Semi-dry with a rag
• Fully-dry with a towel
• Spray windows with glass cleaner
• Dry windows with paper towels
• Apply car wax
• Polish until it shines
I have no idea why these two lessons stand out among the others, but they do. And I remember them like they were yesterday. As I cling to special memories with my dad and recall the many things he has taught me, I’m reminded that I actually have two dads. My earthly dad taught me how to wash physically. Abba (my Heavenly Father) taught me how to wash spiritually.
• Acknowledge you are a sinner in need of a Savior (Romans 3:23)
• Accept the forgiveness Jesus offers; He forgives sins once and for all (Romans 5:9; Romans 5:18-19; Hebrews 10:10)
• Confess verbally and believe internally that Jesus is Lord (Romans 10:9)
• Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38; Romans 6:3-4))
• Seek first God’s kingdom and righteousness & live by the Spirit (Matthew 6:33; Romans 8:13)
• Put on the full armor of God & pray continually (Ephesians 6:11-18; 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18)
• Trust God’s higher ways and walk in His truth (Isaiah 55:8-9; Proverbs 3:5-6)
• Hold onto hope; it’s an anchor for the soul (Hebrews 10:23; Hebrews 6:19-20)
Dad in heaven and dad on earth, thank you for all you have taught me about washing, both physically and spiritually. As the old saying goes, cleanliness is next to godliness.
“Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding” (Proverbs 4:1).
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