I will admit, though, that I’m the “almost perfect” husband. The perfect husband does all that I do plus foot rubs. I’m not into foot rubs. I’ll massage her back for 30-60 seconds but I don’t do feet.
I really don’t know why. My wife has very clean and nice feet, much cleaner and nicer than mine. (They smell better, too)
I don’t ask her to rub mine, though.
These days it seems that to be romantic you have to think of an out-of-this world way to ask her to marry you at the beginning. My boys and son-in-law did this much better than me. And then afterwards you have to rub her feet. I don’t know who came up with these ideas or why (I suspect that the perpetrator wasn’t male), but I strike out on both fronts.
Though I’m not good at rubbing feet I’m great at tickling feet. Unfortunately, that doesn’t get me many romantic points. If I’m not careful it gets me kicked.
Doesn’t keep me from being an almost perfect husband, though. If you don’t believe it just ask me.
Nevertheless, when I look at Jesus and see that he washed the disciples’ feet, I feel a little guilty.
Some have preached that Jesus did this to show how humble He is. I’m not sure. It’s not very humble to do something just to show how humble you are, is it?
No, I think there was a much more practical reason. These guys had been walking in sandals on dirty streets with dogs and maybe village chickens and who knows what else.
The Bible says that during the evening meal Jesus got up and started to wash their feet. Can I suggest a radical reason that Jesus did this?
It was because their feet were dirty.
I wonder sometimes if the smell didn’t get to him and he said to himself, “If I don’t wash those feet I’m not going to be able to eat.” Probably not, but it might have been part of the reason. Who knows?
Jesus showed them what to do when there was a room full of dirty feet.
“When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” (John 13:12-17, NIV)
Ah!
So, if I want to be blessed I better find some feet and get to washing them?
How?
Find a need and fill it. Do it as if you’re doing it for someone you love with your whole heart.
Once I was with my dad shortly before his death. He was mostly unaware of what was going on around him. Occasionally he’d throw up. Ever since I was I kid seeing someone else throw up has made me want to get sick, too.
Not this time. As I helped daddy in his weakness and cleaned his mouth afterwards I was thankful. Because I live so far away I hadn’t been with him much and I was thankful for the chance to help someone who had given me life and taken care of me all those years.
Our attitude makes all the difference when we’re washing feet.
“Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” (James 2:15, NIV)
We need to be washing feet.
That’s all very good. I’m in agreement. The Lord said we were to wash each others’ feet.
He didn’t say anything about rubbing them, though.
Hmmm…
The self-absorbed are always in the market for a louder microphone and a shinier mirror.
Seth Godin
Bonus Wisdom
The fly that buzzes loudest usually gets swatted first. Anon.