A small insight

In the New Testament there are examples of feet washing--either someone washing the Savior's feet, or Him washing the feet of his disciples.  I have usually heard these verses taught with the theme of repentance, humility, or service, depending upon who was doing the washing.  The person teaching the lesson almost always points out that only servants, the lowest of the low, wash feet. 

I have always thought there was a certain "ugh" factor to washing feet.  Feet are smelly, dirty, and fairly ugly.  No wonder only servants wash feet, and if anyone else chose to wash feet, they were doing it to prove a point.  It was distasteful and demeaning to them, but they would swallow their pride and do something for the greater good and to set an example.

Once Eric's cancer kept him at home, he started wearing flip flops instead of shoes and socks.  His feet quickly dried out and his heels began to crack.  One day Eric asked me if I would rub some lotion on his heels because he was in too much pain to bend far enough to put the lotion on himself.  I said sure, and several times a day I would rub either lotion or vaseline onto Eric's feet.

Last night at the hospital Eric told me that the nicest thing about his cancer has been me "playing around" with his feet.  It hit me that I didn't resent it all, and it wasn't distasteful to me.  I actually enjoyed it and would also rub lotion on his legs that were so dry and tired and painful.  I suddenly realized that I have been missing the point of the New Testament stories of washing feet.  The woman washed the Savior's feet because she loved him.  The Savior washed his disciples' feet because He loved them.  It wasn't distasteful, or demeaning, or something to be endured in order to make a point and set an example.  It was a gift freely given.