Washing Dishes: The Unexpected Ways God’s Changing Me

When my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer, everything in life suddenly felt more fragile. Simple routines I used to take for granted started to look different, and even the smallest parts of my day began to change my outlook in ways I didn’t expect.

I found out this past Mother’s Day what a contradiction, right? I had just gotten moved back home from college the night before, and I was so ready to soak up the relief and happiness I felt with being back home with my family.

First, my best friend had texted me that her little brother, 15, was going to the hospital because he was experiencing signs of diabetes. I was stressed for their family, but I knew he was in good hands. I told my family to pray for them, then it got really quiet in the living room. My mom just said, “Um, we have some news.” My heart immediately dropped to my feet. I’m the one who hears ‘we need to talk’ as ‘the worst thing you can imagine is going to come out of my mouth.’ I asked if it was something bad, and she just said: “Everything’s going to be okay.” So yeah, panic.

When she told us the news, I wanted to throw up, cry, and laugh. I felt so helpless and scared, I didn’t know how to do or what to do. I’ve felt fear, like when I was lost at thirteen years old, but this was different because it was for my mom, my best friend, my ride or die. I couldn’t take it away, couldn’t give her certainty that it would be okay. All I could do was worry and pray.

I bet you’re wondering what dishes even have to do with this post…

Well, I absolutely HATE the feel of wet food on dirty dishes floating in the sink. I avoided washing dishes my whole life. My parents would ask me to wash them, but I would gag at the sight and feel of the scraps of food. It made me so uncomfortable, and I couldn’t get past it. Seeing my mom get biopsies done, and her going through pain and fear, I wanted to help as much as possible. I started planning meals, grocery shopping, cleaning, and yes…doing the dishes. I realized that I was letting something so small have power over me when life was asking me to be stronger. The Lord was asking me to be stronger. I know it may not sound like much, but to my mom and me, it is a big deal.

So, I think I learned that growth doesn’t have to be monumental or flashy. Sometimes, it’s the quiet acts of obedience, like washing dishes for your mother. Maybe your “wet food” isn’t dishes. Maybe it’s something small you’ve been avoiding, or you’ve been doubting the intensity of what you’re called to do. But sometimes God uses the tiniest things to show us how much stronger we’ve become.

I’m still learning. Still growing. Still trusting. And somehow, even in the hardest season, I’m becoming braver in the smallest ways.

Xoxo,

Red

“And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.” —Matt. 17:20 (KJV)