5 star rating

This 5 star cleanliness rating which was posted on the wall of a hospital in March 2025 does not expire for a whole year. If only I could have one of these certificates in my house. Imagine being certified as five star clean for 365 days! Alas nobody would believe the certificate if they came into my kitchen. I don't think I would have been granted five stars for a day, never mind a year.

Keeping clean isn't as easy as we'd like. 

In the Bible Psalm 51  reads  "Create in me a clean heart Oh God, and renew a right spirit within me." When we ask God to forgive us and clean us he does an absolutely thorough job. The problem seems to be that we easily pick up dirt. This is where God steps in to renew our certificate of cleanliness. He does it as often as we ask him and there is no expiry date on his forgiveness.

"Pro-age"

At the swimming pool I came across some 'pro-age' shampoo that someone had left on the bench. It was over half empty so I figured I could steal it with impunity. Having checked with the staff that such theft was acceptable, I washed my old hair with the shampoo which promised to restore fullness and strength. What I hadn't realised was that the hair it would restore fullness and strength to, was the oldest and greyest hair. It stuck out at least 2x fuller than normal. To be fair to Dove, the shampoo did not call itself 'pro-youth,' so I should not have been surprised that it did what it said on the bottle. 

 
 Shampoo and cosmetic companies often market products based on their youth renewing properties - they rarely work. The Bible talks about our youth being renewed when we meditate on God. It says "those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength,"   I have found the Bible to be true.
I have discovered the strength that God supplies is enough for each day. We often need so much more than physical strength when life throws stuff at us, We need  inner resolve and resilience, we need someone to hold us securely and love us eternally. I have found that love and security in Jesus, It might not keep my hair brown, but it keeps my soul eternally young.