Cupped hands
Roscoe and I were working on a writing prompt the other day for school. He had to retell the story of my worst day at work. I don’t intend to, but I seem to block those sorts of days from my memory, so I came up blank. He, however, proceeded to remind me of a time when there was a sick child in one of the grade one groups. This child said they didn’t feel well, and started to cough. Now if you’re a mother of young children, you know the cough I mean... not the “I’m sick” kind of cough, but rather the “I’m going to be sick” kind of cough. Before we could grab the trash can or anything, the child started to vomit. And my reaction? I quickly extended my arms and caught his puke in my cupped hands. No hesitation, no other options. As I went to wash up, thoroughly, one of my team members notified the parents and the poor child was taken home. Was it my worst day? Probably not, but I enjoyed hearing Roscoe retell and remind me of it!
It reminded me of another story that is worth retelling. A story of someone else who willingly and unhesitatingly cupped his hands in order to carry the nastiness of our lives. Jesus carried it all the way to the grave for us, and to show his sovereignty over it by leaving it there when he was raised to life again. God knew that there was no other option than to send Jesus to carry our sin, brokenness, hurt and pain for us. We certainly couldn’t bear the burden of it for ourselves, nor did He want us to. So Jesus came with hands outstretched, willing to reach into the messiness of our lives, so that we could know God’s love and tender care for us, even while we were a hot mess.
Is there something that you need to place in his hands today that is weighing heavily on your soul? Is there something that’s been holding you down from moving forward in your life and from knowing how deeply loved you are by God? Tell it to him. Give it to Jesus to carry. This is confession. Give it to Jesus so that he can wash his and your hands of it. Repentance is choosing to live differently than you were before, with his help. Best of all, you don’t have to leave the room and go home like the boy in my story, you can ask him to fill you up with his love, joy, peace and presence, living your life with clean hands and a pure heart.
