Bathtime and so on...

I just read a post that really made me stop and think about all the little duties I do for my children each day. I will paste it here to pass along the blessing to others, but for those of you who would like to check out her website, you can go to...
http://raising-arrows.blogspot.com/2008/07/washing-away-cares-of-day.html

Washing Away the Cares of the Day
from Raising Arrows by Raisingarrows
Pregnancy often brings with it new emotions, new thoughts, and new aches and pains. It is just a fact of life, literally. Bringing a new life into this world does not come without changes and sometimes those changes are somewhat painful. One of my favorite "remedies" for these aches and pains is a nice warm bath, complete with candles and soothing music. Indulgent? Maybe. Medicinal? Definitely!But beyond that, this is the time of day when the house is quiet and I can start to quiet my own soul. This is when I can take the time to marvel at the new life the Lord has blessed us with. This is where I can cry out the Lord when I am missing my dear, sweet Emmy. This is where I can talk to God without interruption. As I take time to slow down, the aches and pains begin to subside and the calm I need in order to fall into a sound sleep overtakes me.But, what about our children's baths? Is bath time in your house a time to marvel at all your little blessings? Is it a time to help them relax? Is it a time when you can talk to them about the Lord and all He has done for them that day? If it is anything like bath time in our home, probably not.Bath time for us is often a rushed orchestration of Dunk 'Em, Dry 'Em, Diaper 'Em, Dress 'Em. Certainly, there are times when it isn't quite that quick and I sit and giggle and chit-chat with them, but even those times are not purposeful. I am not purposefully trying to help them relax, nor am I purposefully using this time when I have them completely confined to four porcelain walls to truly minister to their little minds as I wash their little bodies.I do have a verse posted by the bathtub that reminds me not to begrudge bath time...John 13:14-15If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.But, lately I feel that simply not despising something is not enough. Sure, it's a start, but it's not a finish. Just as I wash away the cares of my day, I must wash away theirs. Not only am I preparing their little bodies for bed, but their hearts and minds as well.