The specific miracles recorded in the bible are a mere fraction of the actual miracles Jesus performed.  Sometimes, like in Matthew 4:23, the author just makes a blanket statement that “. . . he went throughout all Galilee . . . healing every disease and every affliction among the people.” So when particular incidents of healing are mentioned, it is time to take note, especially with the blind.

Most of the blind were healed immediately as mentioned in Matthew 9:27-31 and Luke 18:35-43. One touch of the Master’s hand and the blind could see. But there were two particular healings that were not immediate.

One is in John 9:10-11. In this particular incident, Jesus made a clay, anointed the man’s eyes, and then told him to go to the pool of Siloam and wash.

The other is in Mark 8:22-26. Here, the man saw shapes and shadows after Jesus’s initial touch. Only after Jesus touched him a second time did everything become clear.

Why? Why make the man go to the pool of Siloam to wash and why did it take two tries to get it right for the second man? Did Jesus make a mistake the first time?

No, Jesus does not make mistakes, and it does little good to ask why questions as those questions will most likely not be answered this side of heaven and perhaps won’t matter on the other side. The more appropriate question is, “What do I do with this information?”

For me, I see three takeaways. First every healing, in every encounter with Jesus, those who have come have come with faith. All came because they believed Jesus could heal and meet their needs. Most that we read about received their answers immediately.

But these two didn’t. Yet they still believed. The first had to make his way, still blind, to the pool and rinse his eyes. We are not told how long it took him to get there, only that he did. And once he did, his sight was restored.

Sometimes before God answers our request, He will ask us to do something. Not because our actions are necessary to the outcome, but our obedience demonstrates our faith, which in turn reveals our relationship with God. How long between our request and our “pool at Siloam”?

The second man’s healing came in parts. Sometimes the answers to our prayers come in bits and pieces as well, not because Jesus makes mistakes, but perhaps because he wants to have a conversation with us as he did this man, “Do you see anything?” To which the man replied, “I see men as trees walking.” And then comes the next touch.

God hears all our prayers and knows all of our needs. He also knows what we need between the request and the answer. That answer could be immediate or take time. Answered this side of heaven or the other . . . but always answered.

As you now know, I came home from a trip to Utah a few weeks ago doing battle with a hoard of tumbleweeds. Needless to say, my white CR-V (Cecil—a story for another day) was filthy when I arrived home. I debated washing him, but with two more (shorter) trips coming up and rain in the forecast, I decided to wait.

On Monday I finally took Cecil to the Premier Auto Car Wash, which is really little more than a splash and dash outfit, though they do have pretty good vacuums. The result? Hmmm.


Well, Cecil was cleaner, but only marginally. As I toweled him off, I found myself pulling out bits of tumbleweed from the grill and any other crevice around his nose. I was still wiping off grit, the wheels were still dingy, and bug remains still dotted the headlights and hood. Suffice it to say that, from a distance, he looked clean, but up close . . . Nope. My feeble attempt at a quick clean just didn't do it. He needed a thorough scrubbing.

We often make this same choice in our own lives whether we are a believer or not. A true, deep cleanse, inside and out, comes from God himself, who can make us “whiter than snow” (Psalm 51:7).

Non-believers often put off coming to God for three reasons. First, they feel they are too dirty, that nothing will be able to make them clean; second, they aren’t ready. There is still some dirt or mud they want or feel justified to play in; or three, they feel they can clean themselves up.

Now before we go and pass judgment, we Christians often claim these exact same three excuses. Though saved, sometimes we feel we have gone too far, that we have disappointed our Savior too many times, and he is done with us.

Or we indulge in activities or thoughts that God deems as sin, yet we don’t want to confess or repent just yet because we are enjoying it. But we will––eventually––right?

Or we, too, believe that we can clean ourselves up. Just make the outside look okay. Give the impression we are living in obedience while a closer inspection reveals that there are still smudges of soot and pieces of tumbleweeds clinging to us.

As much as we would like to get by with a quick cleanse. We can’t. There is no middle ground that allows for partial cleaning. Our relationship with God depends on total obedience. Without acknowledging God the Father as supreme and God the Son as our savior, we can have no relationship with God. And then once we do claim him as our savior, whenever we move away . . . indulge in sin . . . we strain that relationship.

If you are either balking at commitment or chafing at obedience, don’t despair and don’t wait. Run to or back to Jesus who welcomes us with open arms, ready to make us “whiter than snow.”

The Bible is replete with images and stories about mothers and their role in their children’s lives and the lives of future generations. Sarah . . . the mother of the Jewish nation through Isaac; Jochabed . . . the mother of Moses, the deliverer of the Jews; Rachel and Leah . . . the mothers of the twelve tribes of Israel; and of course Mary, the young sixteen-year-old with an unmatchable faith and a heart of obedience who gave birth to the savior of the world.

There are many more Biblical mothers of note, and the Bible must always be our first source of knowledge, but that doesn’t mean other writers have not given us wonderful insight, especially on mothers. Today, I would like to share “When God Created Mothers” by one of my all-time favorite authors and dispenser of wisdom—Erma Bombeck. (Though perhaps the situation is not theologically sound, the truth about mothers is. Enjoy.)

“When God Created Mothers” by Erma Bombeck

When the Good Lord was creating mothers, He was into His sixth day of "overtime" when the angel appeared and said. "You're doing a lot of fiddling around on this one."

And God said, "Have you read the specs on this order?" She has to be completely washable, but not plastic. Have 180 moveable parts...all replaceable. Run on black coffee and leftovers. Have a lap that disappears when she stands up. A kiss that can cure anything from a broken leg to a disappointed love affair. And six pairs of hands."

The angel shook her head slowly and said. "Six pairs of hands.... no way."

“It's not the hands that are causing me problems," God remarked, "it's the three pairs of eyes that mothers have to have."

“That's on the standard model?" asked the angel. God nodded.

“One pair that sees through closed doors when she asks, 'What are you kids doing in there?' when she already knows. Another here in the back of her head that sees what she shouldn't but what she has to know, and of course the ones here in front that can look at a child when he goofs up and say. 'I understand and I love you' without so much as uttering a word."

“God," said the angel touching his sleeve gently, "Get some rest tomorrow...."

“I can't," said God, "I'm so close to creating something so close to myself. Already I have one who heals herself when she is sick...can feed a family of six on one pound of hamburger...and can get a nine year old to stand under a shower."

The angel circled the model of a mother very slowly. "It's too soft," she sighed.

“But tough!" said God excitedly. "You can imagine what this mother can do or endure."

Can it think?"

“Not only can it think, but it can reason and compromise," said the Creator.

Finally, the angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek.

“There's a leak," she pronounced. "I told You that You were trying to put too much into this model."

“It's not a leak," said the Lord, "It's a tear."

“What's it for?"

“It's for joy, sadness, disappointment, pain, loneliness, and pride."

“You are a genius, " said the angel.

Somberly, God said, "I didn't put it there.”
* * * * *
Happy Mother’s Day.

Some of my favorite dishes require one important step. Simmering. Letting a dish sit on the stove and slowly cook at a low temperature deepens the flavors and enriches the taste.  And sometimes, letting those flavors rest overnight makes it even better.

This concept transfers very nicely to meditating on God’s Word (Joshua 1:8 says to “meditate on it day and night”) or on focusing and thinking on what is honorable, right, and pure (Philippians 4:8).


It doesn’t, however, do well for bothersome thoughts. Over the years I have had multiple incidents where something was said, texted, or emailed, and I didn’t have a chance to talk about the issue with the person, but instead just think about it . . . it and all the possible meanings and innuendos and ramifications. In other words, I “let it stew.”

This never turns out well, does it? At least not for me. I worry, get angry, lose sleep, and for what? Something that may or may not have been meant, or something that may or may not even be an issue.

The Bible is very clear about not wasting your time and thought on these issues.

I Peters 5:7 tells us to “Cast all [our] anxiety on him because he cares for [us].”

Philippians 4:6 says to “not be anxious about anything, but in every situation . . . present [our] requests to God.” With a thankful heart, mind you.

And Ephesians 4:26 tells us to “Not let the sun go down while [we]are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.”

Let’s not let the devil get even a sliver of an opportunity of taking away our peace or causing friction in our relationships. Let’s not “let it stew.”