As I walked past a fairly large stain from a bottle of nail polish remover that had been accidentally spilled on the hardwood floors near the sofa in our bedroom, I immediately thought:
I really don’t mind that stain.
The stain happened when Victoria Leigh moved home to help me while I recovered from surgery, and right before she moved to China. That was almost one year ago. Time seems to have wings and fly, and yet at times, crawl. We were absolutely thrilled that she was going to be able to come home to help because:
1. We love her!
2. I needed help during recovery.
I really don’t mind that stain.
Now, I must confess that: I like everything to be neat and tidy. And normally if something is broke, I fix it, or get it fixed. If a job or task needs to be done, it goes on a to-do list and when completed, I cross it off and move on to the next task.
Are you familiar with the verse:
“Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.”
Proverbs 14:4, KJV
In my mind when I see this area on the floor that has no stain, I think:
Where no children are, the floors are pristine: but much good came from the strength of Victoria moving home to help her mama recover from surgery.
Proverbs 14:4, Lora version
I really don’t mind that stain.
That stain speaks the “with of love” to me. At just the time I needed her, she moved home. My young adult, heading-t0-China, daughter moved home. Was it all unicorns and Skittles and daisies? No, but I cannot think of anyone who was better suited for serving in love. Victoria Leigh had faithfully served my dad, her grandfather, when he lived with us. I had witnessed her be ever so patient with him, and always compassionate, while assisting with bathing, dressing, serving meals, lifting him, providing bathroom assistance, cleaning and sanitizing areas, and changing sheets, etc. And then, here I was after surgery, in humble need of the same help.
I really don’t mind that stain.
It was during the routine and mundane care that stain occurred. She had lifted me out of bed – I could not get up on my own and helped to get me to the en suite and while she was waiting for me, she grabbed the nail polish remover and a cotton ball and sat on the sofa at the foot of our bed, chattering as she started to remove the nail polish, and then it happened, the bottle turned and what was meant to remove nail polish, stripped the finish off the floor. I heard “Mom!” and she told me what happened; but I was no help. And even if I had been, I don’t know that I could have done anything her capable hands did not try. She felt bad. And I told her not to worry that it was only a thing.
I could’ve put a rug over it, or had it refinished; but that stain speaks Proverbs 14:4 to me. My crib does not look pristine. The stain is a reminder that a beloved child sat on that sofa waiting on her mama. It speaks the “with of love” to me. The “with of love” is more wonderful than a clean crib.
I really don’t mind that stain.
