YOUR APRON IS HOLY!

I love my aprons! They are such wonderful friends to this homemaker. Whatever colour, pattern or cloth they're made from they are a great help to me around the home. They save much wear and tear on my clothes and keep them fresh throughout the day. I have a nice little collection of store-bought and homemade ones that I enjoy wearing - they make me feel more efficient and ready to work with willing hands. And because I know their purpose is to actually get dirty I can put full effort into cleaning away the grime without worrying about spoiling them. A good wash and line dry and the apron is ready for another day's housekeeping adventures.

As a teenager my youngest son went through a peculiar stage where he objected to my wearing aprons. He thought they made me look subservient! He was correct - they did. And still do. But there's nothing strange or wrong in that, for when I wear one I am in service and the apron announces this fact quite clearly. Thankfully once my son entered the hospitality trade and had to wear one himself, he came to understand the need for aprons and saw their necessity and practicality. He no longer felt led to 'stand up' for me and or try to save me from drudgery -as he had perceived my duties back then. Nowadays, we can have a laugh about how he tried to champion my cause and release mother from the chains of my housewifery fashion!

But that experience showed me how easily he'd been affected by the world's ideas and feminist agenda. He loved me being at home but at the same time, thought an apron was an insult to my dignity because it is a servant's garment. His father's leather work apron filled with the tools of his trade was ok -he had no objection to Dad's . A strong leather apron to wear while using power tools was fine...a soft pretty one for washing dishes was not! One symbolized manly pursuits and dealing with timber and creating strong furniture. The other.. tidying and cleaning up after people and serving them without complaint. Mind you, he was quite happy for Mum to clean up after him and cook his meals and so on - it was just the symbol of humble service that offended him!

It makes me think of Peter and the problem he had with Jesus on that last night.
Peter was shocked and repulsed to see his Lord put on the garment of a servant and prepare to wash their dirty feet. He sought to prevent this social calamity and strongly reminded Jesus of the humiliation of what He was about to do. That was a menial job! Not a rabbi's! And besides they had house-servants to do that for guests. It was the servants role to wash the dust from feet; an important part of the hospitality of those days in Israel, and a service which was expected to be provided by a good host. The host did not do it. That would be a breach of ettiquette.
And here is Jesus - stooping to wash their feet - how can that be!!!
He is the King Messiah-the Son of David -the Anointed of God! What on earth was He doing?!!


The Babe wrapped in swaddling cloth.. and the Man wrapped in a servants towel.
Indeed...the Great Work of Love begins and ends in humility...always humility.

And today, the world still looks on and spurns, not understanding the power or seeing the beauty embodied in the actions of the humble ones of God. Never sensing the deep holiness in their many hidden acts of love performed so freely and unconditionally. To the eyes of the world it can seem a thankless task to repeat, day after day, the sacrifices of devoted service in the home.
And if we listen to the whispers of discontent we might become persuaded to agree with the world and start to despise the mission we've been given. There is some pain in being a keeper at home. There is the daily laying down of our lives for our loved ones.
But we do not walk this path alone -

"remember that the Lord goes about among the pots and pans, helping you in all you do!" (St Teresa of Avila)

The godly housewife's apron is the symbol of the sweet yoke of Jesus Christ.
When it's worn by a loving woman who is happy to wash the feet of her family it becomes a means of sanctification for her and her household. It is her heart attitude which makes it so!
Her apron becomes a holy covering and she brings blessing upon her home and family, because she is yielding to her Lord by imitating His example.
She is wearing "..holy garments for ministering in the Holy Place." (Exodus 39:1)
Yes..an apron is a biblical sign of holiness!
Even the High Priest of Israel was instructed by God to wear one when serving in the Holy Temple.
The Lord gave instructions for the ephod's construction and said it was for the beautification of His priest. It was indeed very beautiful, being a linen apron woven with blue, purple and scarlet colours and interwoven with gold thread. Over it the High Priest wore the golden breastplate embroidered with the names of the families of Israel. When he stood before God , the Lord saw the generations of Abraham represented by the ephod and the be-jeweled breastplate, and He listened to the intercession being made on their behalf by his High Priest

All this may seem a far cry from the occupation of the average christian housewife wearing her floral apron while she peels potatoes at the kitchen sink. -but is it really ?
Do we not aim to serve our families in love and humility?
Do we not pray for them as we go about our daily chores?
Do we not 'practise the Presence of God' as we wash the dishes and scrub our floors?
Are not our homes a 'Holy Place' for our families?
As we go through the day, maybe we need to ask the Lord for a fresh vision of the value of our housework. If we are not careful, the daily-ness and same-ness of routine can tarnish the beautiful image and hide the true glory of what we are about. Perhaps too often, we forget what a great privilege we have as keepers of the home. It is truly a holy calling and a sacred vocation!
May our well-worn aprons remind us of our high position as intercessors for our husbands and children; and may they joyfully call us to humble service as the foot-washers of our precious families.
Jesus ..our High Priest..wore an apron and said " I have given you an example that you should do as I have done to you." (John 13:15)
Perhaps you have never given very much thought to your favourite apron, never seen it as a sacred garment before, nevertheless it is true - your apron is holy!

blessings..Trish

( a re-post from 19th August 2010)