"What's wrong with being pretty? I just want to look professional.
I want others to take me seriously. I like fashion.
How my family dresses is a reflection on me as a provider.
I want to look good for my spouse.
Almost all of these arguments are rooted in someone else's opinion.
Somehow the exterior dressing
is elevated over the content of my character.
Jen Hatmaker, The 7 Experiment
How often do we look to others for self actualization... for affirmation...for a "Well done" or "Nice job," and when it is coupled with a, "You look beautiful" while doing it, it somehow makes it even sweeter.
Is it possible that we care more about what we are wearing than the lives of others? When one pair of jeans would fund three child sponsorships, and we shop as a habit? (Hatmaker, 60) What are we really saying about the state of our heart?
In Isaiah, God makes it pretty clear where he is looking or more so, where He is not :
3:16 - 23
16 The Lord said:
Because the daughters of Zion are haughty
and walk with outstretched necks,
glancing wantonly with their eyes,
mincing along as they go,
tinkling with their feet,
17 therefore the Lord will strike with a scab
the heads of the daughters of Zion,
and the Lord will lay bare their secret parts.
Because the daughters of Zion are haughty
and walk with outstretched necks,
glancing wantonly with their eyes,
mincing along as they go,
tinkling with their feet,
17 therefore the Lord will strike with a scab
the heads of the daughters of Zion,
and the Lord will lay bare their secret parts.
18 In that day the Lord will take away the finery of the anklets, the headbands, and the crescents; 19 the pendants, the bracelets, and the scarves; 20 the headdresses, the armlets, the sashes, the perfume boxes, and the amulets; 21 the signet rings and nose rings; 22 the festal robes, the mantles, the cloaks, and the handbags; 23 the mirrors, the linen garments, the turbans, and the veils.
Oh man, why did he have to include scarves and handbags? I was fine with nose rings and amulets.
I am convicted. I am guilty. I have way more scarves than I need and one of my purses sold on ebay could feed a child for a year.
This is not for the light hearted. This really is not for me, but I have to do it. And He will help. In my quest for simplicity. In my desire to not be a hypocrite with a book dealing with clearing out my heart and home, I will try this experiment.
I will dress simply this week. Seven items. That is it. And make less of me and more of Him.
And I will pray for a heart to be clear with a closet a little less full, and hopefully find even more of me to give to others.
What is one piece of clothing you think you could NOT live without?
1 comments:
I'm not so much into clothes, I don't even own a scarf, except a winter one, but I struggle with so many other things. I do a lot of shopping at Goodwill which makes it a little easier for me to justify buying a bunch of stuff I don't need. Toys for kids, homeschooling books we'll never use, office supplies, books, you name it. I don't even have room for all my stuff. I've gone through in the past and tried to clear stuff out, but I find the biggest thing I need to change is just not going to the store. And if I go, then if I pray before entering the doors, maybe I won't buy things I don't need.
Great post! It's really making me think this morning.
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