"I can't think of any sorrow in the world that a hot bath wouldn't help, just a little bit." —Susan Glasee

Shower Power

The white noise of the hot water beats down on me, drowning out the stress of single parenting. The shower seems the only place that my sons, bill collectors, and the demands of all my responsibilities remain locked outside the bathroom door.

It's just me. No distractions.

Before my mind and day launches into turbo charge, the piping hot water pelts my neck, putting my mind in warm-up mode for the day. As I squeeze the tube of body wash, creative solutions to problems ooze out from between my ears. My thought processes flow. I plan my "To-Do" list, solve problems or experience "ah ha!" moments. Occasionally, negative emotions wash over me and the streaming water hides my sobs and tears from my sons.

My auto-pilot shower routine—wash hair, soap up, shave, scrub, rinse—allows my mind and body to relax from my otherwise rigorous, uptight schedule. My shower time is the only time in my day that I experience peace and quiet. When I switch off the shower, daily stress again bombards my non-shower thinking.

Lather, Rinse, Repeat

Who hasn't experienced an epiphany under pulsing hot water? The power of the shower provides the perfect environment for a spiritual pause.

Take the instructions on a shampoo bottle—lather, rinse, repeat. How many times in my life have I washed my hair? When my hair does not feel clean after the first lather, rinse, repeat, I re-lather, re-rinse, repeat until it feels silky.

The instructions on the shampoo bottle reveal the solo-parenting spirit. The single parent perseveres, working their way through the dirty challenges of life, lathering, rinsing and repeating until they overcome the problems at hand.

The Quiet Waters of the Shower

The shower often provides a spiritual getaway, freeing my mind to think about how God pours out his comfort. When I—

• suffer from the exile and loneliness of single parenting, I cry out to God who understands my plight, "Save me, O God, for the waters have threatened my life," (Psalm 69:1).
  
• pass through the solo-parenting waters threatening to engulf me, "God is there with me," (Isaiah 43:2).
  
• feel overcome by exhaustion, God "leads me beside quiet waters," (Psalm 23:2).
  
• worry about my future, God reminds me that "like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, I will yield fruit in my season. My life and leaf does not wither; and in whatever I do, I will prosper," (Psalm 1:3).
  
• resent the unfairness of life that robs my joy, I call out to my rescuer, “Joyfully I pull up buckets of water from the wells of salvation. And as I do it, I'll say, "Give thanks to God. Call out his name. Ask him anything!” (Isaiah 12:3–3).
  
• fret that my dried up resources can't provide opportunities to ensure my children's futures, I trust God to "pour out water on the thirsty land and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring and My blessing on your descendants," (Isaiah 44:3).
  
• cry tears of grief, I know that someday, "God will wipe every tear from my eyes," (Revelations 7:17).
  

Never underestimate the power of the shower or God’s ability soak your parched heart with his strength and love.