Dirty Dishes in the Sink

One recent morning I trudged into my kitchen only to behold a stack of dirty cat dishes.  Again.  It's a scene I often encounter, only this time, it got me thinking... 

I hope you enjoy this one!

Dirty Dishes in the Sink

Every morning, when I walk into the kitchen, I am welcomed by the sight of dirty cat dishes that fill up the sink – sometimes both sides of the sink.  Sigh.

My husband is the official ‘breakfast waiter’ for our cat menagerie of three.  Believe me, he has his hands full serving our little trio.  On time.   Every day. 

Naturally, they make it their business to boss him around.   They cry.  They scratch at their food cabinet.  They rule the start of the day (and other parts of our 24 hours.)  Some mornings, one of our felines even sneaks a walk inside the cabinet, despite great effort to prevent this little trek (or trick). 

Eventually, my husband completes his challenging task, and even gets himself to work on time.  Barely. 

The cats, for their part, never think to leave him a tip.  What they do leave, like I said, is dirty cat dishes.  For me.  Joy. Joy.  And I don’t mean the dishwashing detergent.

Dirty dishes.  They are, plain and simple, a part of everyday life.  Plates filled with little globs of ketchup, a piece of veggie you can’t seem to put into your mouth, maybe even an unwanted food morsel that you simply refuse to try today, thank you very much. Then there are the glasses that accumulate throughout the day - way too many of them, which don’t quite fit into the already full dishwasher.   Frustrated yet?

And someone has to deal with all this mess.  If you’re reading this, you are probably thinking, “That ‘somebody’ is me.”  Ugh!

What about when God sees our messes?  Doesn’t He watch us each and every day, staring directly at all the stacks of messes we make in our own lives?  Of course.  And does He throw us away, treating us like a dirty plate that needs to be scraped?  No way.  Instead, He takes hold of each plate, each glass, each of us, as if we were the most precious piece of bone china or fine crystal that was ever made. Then He lovingly, gently, washes us thoroughly until at last we come out clean - till the next time.  All He asks for in return is our gratitude and a chance to be a vital part of our lives.

Well, it’s almost that time again.  Time to clean up the morning mess in my sink. 

Thank you, three felines who, despite the mess, we love so much.  Thank You also, dear God, for cleaning up my messes, big and small, on each side of the sink, today and every day.  Amen.

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9


Copyright by Chris Schneider 2011

The Little Black Notebook

The following is a piece I wrote to honor my Mom the year before she passed away.  Her heart was always an open door to me and to all those who had the privilege of knowing her.  I miss her so much.

Pull up a chair... enjoy!

The Little Black Notebook

My mother is the owner of a small, black, spiral bound notebook. At first glance her “little black book” appears to be quite ordinary. Upon closer inspection, however, it quickly becomes apparent that this is a one-of-a-kind notebook that might very well top the list of my mother’s most priceless possessions.

Over time, the little black notebook has become worn with age.  Vigorous daily use will do that to just about anything, I suppose.   And because of this, the notebook has become invaluable to its owner.  

Scrutinizing the contents, one quickly observes a host of carefully recorded pages with many handwritten notes and details, some written down many years ago.  Other entries document more recent years.  One thing is certain: this very-dear-to-my-mother’s-heart notebook, which never leaves her side, is an ever active and alive little treasure – so very much like its owner.

So what exactly is this precious possession, this little notebook which occupies so much of my mother’s time and attention each and every day?   It’s her prayer book.

Over the years she has recorded the prayer needs of family, extended family, friends, neighbors, church friends, community issues, all branches and positions of local and national government, and many other ‘prayer points’ which have woven their way into the fabric of my mother’s important and far reaching prayer life. Nothing appears to be too big or too small to lift up in prayer before my mother’s all caring God.

When I think of my mother, especially the older person she has become, I picture a small, white haired, green eyed stalwart of prayer - still remarkably active and interested in every one... 88 years young.  She is an amazing human being to all who know her.  

The thing that blesses me the most about this dynamo is the fact that she prays about so very much. Not only does my mother remember our whole family every day, she also prays for countless other people and issues which she and God discuss as they meet together on a regular basis just inside the open door of her heart and home.  There is no doubt in my mind that much is accomplished in these all important prayer appointments.

My mother is a prayer warrior.  Oh, she might not wear a suit of armor or carry an automatic weapon, but her prayers are just as strong and well disciplined as a soldier fit for battle.  They also reflect one woman’s genuine caring for so many, with prayers marked by their careful timeliness and commitment to things that truly matter.  Naturally, she is not a perfect human being, but my mother is the most gracious and grateful person I will ever know, whose soul stays open to all.  She is deeply thankful to God for the forgiveness of her sins and for the assurance of Heaven where one day she will live eternally.   

“Blessed to be a blessing.” These are the words my mother especially loves to say, so much so that they already appear on the epitaph of her tombstone, words which have guided her throughout a long and richly blessed life devoted to prayer and people.      

And so, with a one-of-a-kind, not-so-ordinary little black spiral notebook as her trusty daily prayer roadmap, my remarkable mother continues to pray.  One day at a time. Every day.  For the rest of her life.

And God listens. 

“The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.” James 5:16b8  

(Copyright, 2011 by Chris Schneider)