A Softer Heart

   While doing the laundry during a recent visit with our family in Michigan, I made an interesting discovery. It happened when Shanda, my step-daughter, gave me some instructions on using her washer and dryer, and then said,

   “We use fabric softener with our wash. Just put a little of the liquid in the plastic holder in the washing machine and dilute it with water.”

    Fabric Softener? I had never used it before! After doing a couple of loads of laundry, I realized that the clothes really were soft and smelled good. Maybe it was time to make a change!  

    Previously, I washed the clothes, hung them on a rack or outside in the sunshine to dry and then put them in the dryer on the ‘air fluff’ cycle to conserve energy. But they didn’t fluff too much and came out stiff!

   When my mom used to come for an overnight visit, she would bring her own towels. Mom, who never complained about anything, mentioned that ours were scratchy. Although she was the one who taught me how to do the wash and other housekeeping chores when I was young, she never mentioned using fabric softener.

   Shanda’s machine even had a special plastic holder in which to pour the liquid. I had never noticed anything like that on my mine; but when I checked it after returning home, sure enough there was a gadget in the center of the washer and directions for using it on the inside of the lid. How could I have not noticed those directions?

   Well, a little softener goes a long way, with nice results. It makes me think of how we treat other people. Do we have a compassionate acceptance of people as they are or are we quick to judge others based on outward appearances and first impressions? The latter tendency can ruin relationships before they even get started. Either we don’t realize that this is a problem, or we justify being hard-hearted towards others by casting the blame on them.

    This was the case with the Old Testament prophet Jonah, when he received clear instructions from God to travel to the city of Nineveh and warn its people of impending judgment because of their great wickedness. Jonah, thinking that Nineveh deserved to be destroyed by God, refused to go. Instead, he took a ship headed to a far-off seaport, but during a terrible storm was thrown overboard and swallowed by a ‘great fish,’ perhaps a whale. Even after spending three days and three nights in its belly and being thrown up on the land, he only reluctantly obeyed God upon receiving the same order a second time.

    The Ninevites responded to his message by repenting. The king even made a decree that they should all fast, give up their evil ways and turn from their violence. And so they did. God had mercy on them and withheld the destruction; but Jonah was unforgiving. The story ends with his sitting down, waiting to see what would happen to the city. Did he realize that his pride, rebellion and hardheartedness towards the Ninevites were also sins and that he too was in need of forgiveness? Or, did Jonah end his life in bitterness, separated from the One who loved him and who had called him to be a prophet to the people?

   Dear Lord, please help me to love others the way you love them and to see them through your eyes. Forgive me for being so quick to judge, especially based on outward appearances or first impressions. Soften my hardened heart!  In Jesus’ name, Amen

“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” 1 John 4:10-11NIV