When my first daughter was born, someone gifted us these little stuffed animals that you could microwave and they would warm up and help soothe a crying child. It’s a great concept and they did warm up and get all snuggly. The only issue with these stuffed animals is that you can’t wash them. I was loving the whole business model for this company until I read the washing instructions on the little tag. Who makes a cloth toy marketed specifically for snotty, teary children and not allow it to be washed???

I am a big rule follower, especially when it comes to washing instructions. I have lost one too many a garment to not reading labels. We kept this pink lamb stuffed animal in my car so that Remi always had something she could hold and hug in the car. One day, I got a call from her daycare at the time that she probably had hand, foot, and mouth. In the rush of leaving work, picking her up, and taking her to the doctor to confirm she did have HFM, I totally forgot about the stuffed animal she was holding onto in the car. HFM is contagious and awful to have, so I tried to clean everything that weekend so no one else would catch and it would disappear quickly.

Which brought me to a cross roads of whether I should wash the stuffed animal or not. After weighing the pros and cons, I decided to throw it in the wash so we didn’t have to deal the HFM anymore. It’s a stuffed animal. How much harm could a washing machine do? My husband has ignored garment washing instructions so many times and it usually turns out fine. I felt so rebellious and yet so powerful as I started the wash. Maybe I should throw a couple hand wash only dishes in the dishwasher while I am at it? It felt so freeing! Until the cycle was done and I went to transfer it to the dryer. When I pulled out that pink lamb, it had almost doubled in size.

Whatever material that heats up the stuffed animal to that nice, snuggly temperature must have absorbed a lot of water and now it was a very chubby lamb. Okay, not what I was expecting, but it still soft and cute and we rarely ever heated it up in the microwave anyways, so it will dry and all it well. Again, until it dried all the way. I went to grab the pink lamb to return it to my car, and it was rock solid. Like a brick. It definitely should not have been washed.

Before I was able to dispose of this once beloved stuffed animal, my daughter grabbed it and would not let go. She didn’t even act like anything was different about it. She loved it just as much despite its significant weight difference and no longer plush texture. So, he still lives in my car and she holds him every time she gets in her car seat.

I don’t even remember what the name was before I washed this thing, but my husband changed his name to Peter, the rock.

In Matthew chapter 16, Simon, one of Jesus’ disciples, declares that Jesus is the Messiah. After he does this, Jesus changes his name from Simon to Peter saying “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” (Matthew 16:18) Names were everything during that time, so for Jesus to change the name of someone there had to be some significant circumstances. As we read, the foundation of the Christian church is the circumstance.

Peter played a huge role in the spreading of the gospel when Jesus was with them and after he ascended. He was one of the first disciples called. He was the one who stepped out of the boat and walked on water to Jesus. He was at the Transfiguration. He was there at Pentecost.

Peter is also remembered for denying Jesus three times when He was arrested, something Peter himself swore he would never do. But Jesus predicted that would happen. Jesus knew Peter would deny him when He changed his name and called him the rock of the church. Jesus saw past the mistakes Peter would make. In John 21, after Jesus has defeated death, he gives Peter the chance to declare his love for Him. In verses 15-17, Jesus asks Peter if he loves him three times as if to undo the three denials. Again, Jesus saw past the mistakes and saw Peter for the apostle he was created to be.

Peter is a great example of how the Lord looks at us. Despite our mistakes, our inability to follow the rules, or just get it right, God looks on us with grace and anticipation for all that He can use us for. When we started following Jesus, our names were changed just like Peter’s. Just like my daughter’s pink lamb, our internal make-up was changed too. Our hearts are turned toward God and his ways. Our motivations are directed toward the success of His Kingdom. Sometimes being changed is not a bad thing. I love that we call this pink lamb Peter, because I know one day our daughter will question the name and we get to explain who Peter was in the Bible and show her all the amazing things he did for the Kingdom. And we also get to show her how human he was and that he made mistakes too even though he was “the rock”.