Eleven years ago I shared this memorable experience with my grandson!
Weekly, my two-and-a-half-year-old grandson, Jericho, and I make our “milk run.” The local Christian-run dairy sells milk in glass returnable bottles. Jericho likes to go with Pap because there are always tractors and cows to see. They have a little room where children can get “up close & personal” with the calves. They have a hand sink wash up and sanitizer available for little hands after being with the calves. Jericho goes from calf to calf. They nuzzle and lick him and he bends over and gives each one a kiss on the head. Last week as we were making our rounds among the calves something unique happened! One calf was lying down in the straw. Jericho petted the calf and then bent way over to give the little calf his kiss on the head. But as Jericho was bending over the calf got spooked … jumped up … and spun around. He was coming up and spinning just as Jericho was going down for the kiss. Jericho’s pucker met the calf’s hind quarter … right where he had been laying in his own manure!
I’ll never forget Jericho’s wide-eyed face! His face, lips, and nose were covered with … how shall we say this delicately … poop! He reached for me and said with conviction, “Pap! Yuk!”
Pap’s handkerchief came to a quick rescue (Note to self – don’t blow nose until a clean handkerchief is acquired!) and then to the sink for a face scrub and sanitizer. Jericho then told me clearly that he was “all done” in the calf barn! Let’s go look at the tractors!
Approaching Easter is a good time for reflection. What sin is in our lives that has let the “God-image” in which we were created become stained with the “poop” of the world? Do we come before the Lord in worship with dirty hands and face? Let us truly examine our hearts, lives, motives, attitudes … and come in deep repentance to the One who loves us and gave everything for our cleansing! Is there some habit that needs to be ended? Is there some uncleanness left unconfessed? Is there some besetting sin needing confrontation in your life? Make the decision TODAY! Come with tears of repentance TODAY! From the heart, come to God with the cry, “Father! Yuk!”
“Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent, and humbly accept the Word that is planted in you.” James 1:22 NIV
“Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your unfailing love; according to Your great compassion blot out all my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from every sin.” Psalm 51:1,2 NIV
When we came home, without telling anyone what had happened, I told Jericho to give his grandmother a big kiss on the lips! Well, that’s a story for another time!
Father! Yuk! Cleanse me!
Larry Dentler, CBC Executive Board
