She was hard. Single-mom Elizabeth had several children close in age, all with a different last name and a different skin color. Don’t get me wrong! I LOVE every hue that God created. But I ache for kids to have stable families!
Elizabeth had caused a lot of problems at our homework club (HW), sometimes coming in and screaming at her own children in front of everyone else. Sometimes the verbal bombshell would land on another child that she felt acted unjustly toward her child. Other times, when she wanted special treatment, she was angelic. Even the apartment managers shared how many times the police had been called to their facility because of this family. (In case you are wondering, we couldn’t keep her out because we were meeting at the apartment’s public cabana. Anyone had a right to be in this area.)
She was hard to love.
Our club leaders chose to pray for her and ask God for opportunities to show real love. Sometimes this meant setting boundaries, but I never dreamt the other way God would ask me to respond.
Christmas was coming so I had asked God what kind of gift He would like for Christmas. My answer came soon.
I was at a city-reaching conference, thinking of this family, when the speaker started sharing his evangelism style: going into businesses and cleaning their toilets. When they would ask why he did that, he would share, “I think if Jesus were walking on earth today, that’s the kind of stuff he would do.”
It hit me hard, “Go clean her toilet!”
“Really Lord? How’s that going to happen?”
A deep feeling came over me that for God’s Christmas gift, He would like a clean toilet.
The next time homework club met, one of her children needed to be walked home. It was the perfect opportunity to talk to her mom.
“Elizabeth? I have a Christmas gift for you.”
“OK.” She held out her hand.
“Umm, it’s kind of a weird gift.”
“Ok?” She kept her hand out but pulled back a bit, unsure of what was coming her way.
“I would like to come and clean your toilet sometime.”
“Ok? That is kind of weird. I guess it’s Ok.”
“Would Friday work?”
I heard celebration in the background! Evidently it was the chore that week for the daughter I had walked home.
When Friday came, I went and cleaned. Mom had a headache and slept on the couch, but the kids were home from school and the daughter whose job I had taken, kept me company.
“Why are you doing this?” She asked as I spent an hour making a filthy bathroom gleam.
“I think if Jesus were walking on earth today, that’s the kind of stuff he would do.” I recited.
“Oh.” In the following silence, I could almost hear the gears moving in her brain.
I never really knew if it was a gift for Elizabeth or her daughter. I didn’t really even know if it mattered to Elizabeth, though things seemed more peaceful after. She didn’t seem as bristled and defensive about things. One day when she was mad, she refused to yell. She just put her headphones on, turned her iPod up and walked out. At first I was upset that we didn’t talk through the issue but then I realized, this was progress! She was treating us differently.
Finally Elizabeth’s family was evicted. The police had been called one-too-many times. The apartment managers had enough. As Elizabeth called my co-leader in tears and desperation she opened up, “I always knew you guys were different. Ever since you cleaned my toilet.”
She shared much of her life story and my friend was able to point her to Jesus. God, the One who cleaned far more than her toilet, would be there to give her a fresh start in her new place if she wanted.
Have you asked God what He wants for Christmas? You might be surprised!
Have a Merry Christmas and see you next year!
Until Every Boy and Girl Knows Jesus,
-Annie
*Names of kids always changed- big and little
