Whitnee's journey with Christ

If they obey and serve Him, they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity and their years in contentment.
Job 36:11

When I was a little girl I used to love taking baths when I was at grandma’s house- it was like a sleepover everyday! Grandma would make Melissa and I wash together and then Regis and Jason would wash together. I wonder if they remembered that little tiny detail!

Sometimes when grandma would wash she would have Melissa or myself come in to wash her back. Grandma smelled like lilies and lanolin cream. It was quite the combination but that was grandma! As we got older we stopped taking baths and were able to graduate to taking showers.

Before the official graduation to taking showers depending on how hot it was outside and how much dirt had collected in the tub, we would have to run the water and stand up in the tub to get the dirt off of ankle. Grandma said, “girls shouldn’t have dark knees.” Melissa didn’t have dark knees but for some reason my fat knees were very dark. So grandma would put a cap full of bleach in the water and scrub my knees so. Sometimes I thought grandma would scrub the “black” off of me.

I wonder if my mom and her sisters grew up taking baths? I wonder if they took showers together, two at a time?

To cut down on the time and effort showering became the new normal but not for my mom. Over the years even in the busiest times of her life, I remember her taking baths. Her skin would come out so soft and delicate- nothing similar to my skin. It felt like a pillow. Grandma’s arms felt like you were rubbing on a cloud. I would rub their arms like they were my personal blanket or teddy bear and go to sleep.

Oh how I miss rubbing grandma’s arms! Since May 29th, I have had the luxury of rubbing lotion on my moms arms and she still has the softest most delicate skin in the world!

On Monday my mom decided it was time for her to graduate from bed baths at the sink to taking a bath. Due to the dressing on the side of her neck and avoiding getting her peg tube wet she hasn’t showered so I’ve had the privilege of washing her or as she became more independent; assisting her in washing. So here we are Monday, I made sure I didn’t put too much water in the tub. With excitement my mom got in. For a 64 year old woman, her knees are better than mine because she had good control sitting down in the tub with not enough water to cover the top of her legs.

She relaxed her body and then began paddling her feet in excitement. She was so happy to take a bath- she was so content! It was the little things that made her happy! She was able to wash herself, she was able to feel the warm water between her toes, she was able to feel God’s grace as she relaxed and took her bath.

Her smile was priceless! It seemed to set the tone and her mood for the day. It was a joy seeing momma so happy- and to think most of us want more, need bigger, or totally unhappy for what we have. Here she was… she just wanted a bath!

If you think about it some of us take that for granted because their are people in the world who don’t have the luxury of taking a bath or even access to clean, fresh water.

When you live and serve God you have this prosperity and find the contentment even in just taking a bath!

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Romans 12:2

We find contentment through our service to God. Like Proverbs says, a heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.

I’m thankful I was taught to have and to find contentment in God and not in man or material possessions.

Are your earthly relationships, worldly possessions, or obsessions stopping you with finding contentment in serving the Lord? Let’s strive to be like momma and take that bath in pure contentment!