Holy Lessons from the Hole-y and Dirty Laundry - Part 1

It was a simple task and one that has been repeated more times than I can count (even past my fingers and toes).  Most of the time I do it mindlessly, tackling it more like a robot would in a factory assembly line.  Four piles in all every time, and my pile is somehow always the biggest.

Now that the kids are older, they are taking turns helping with this task.  But this particular day I couldn't wait for them to participate.  So there I sat in the middle of the living room floor sorting and folding laundry in my robotic state.  Something changed though when I reached for the stained T-shirt and hole-y socks.  Suddenly I was no longer a robot.

Instantly I began to visualize Landon's one-kneed jeans.  His zest for outdoor activity involving arms and knees to the ground digging, creating a safe haven for his latest treasures, or crawling up the stairs of the play set have played a role in the open-kneed look.  Randomly falling mid-step or while racing his sister and a friend across the field have also taken a toll on these jeans.  He's comfortable in those jeans and wears them without wondering what people will think of that hole.

But picking up the hole-y socks sent my thoughts in another direction. (And yes, other things have holes too, but I'm sticking with socks for this post.)  One Sunday Landon mentioned that something was bothering his toes.  Of course he was encouraged to keep his shoes on during Sunday school and children's church, but the promise of investigating his discomfort seemed to help.  "Oh, I have a hole in my sock.", was his forthright proclamation after shedding his shoes after church.  I began thinking about how those holes are normally hidden from view and aren't welcome to make an appearance, at least in my book.  How quick I am to fix or hide a hole in something, especially if the eyes of someone else may spot it.

But wouldn't you know, when I see a hole in the garment belonging to someone else, I almost breathe an unheard sigh of relief.  Ah, they have hole-y stuff too!  Whether it's a total stranger, a friend, or another family member who is sporting a visible hole, it seems as though we suddenly have a "common bond" even with something as insignificant as a sock, a pair of jeans, etc.

"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man:…" (1 Cor. 10:13a)

Imagine what might happen if we showed our more of our "holes" to one another - a broken marriage, a rebellious child, fear, mom-exhaustion, worry, impatience, an addiction, anger, doubt, depression, or a host of other things.

Those very temptations and struggles that we are so desperately trying to hide are the very things God may use in our lives…not for comparison (2 Cor. 10:12), not for judging/condemning (James 4:11), but for provoking one another unto love and good works (Heb. 10:24), for bearing one another's burdens (Gal. 6:2), and for edifying one another (Eph. 4:29).  Maybe next time I discover a hole, I won't be so quick to hide it.