Fashion Statement

Long ago, a twelve year old girl and her older sister sat in the storage area below the stairway in their two story farmhouse. They looked at the pieces of fabric in the box. So many colors, so many patterns. The sisters discussed what they would make from each piece and dreamed of fashion. They soon progressed from making their own patterns and designs for their dolls and went into the real world, designing their own clothes.

When the twelve year old girl grew up, she made her own wedding dress. How do I know? Because that little girl is (was) my Mom. Because of her ability to sew, I had a beautiful wardrobe. I made a fashion statement! My earliest memory is of Mom at the treadle Singer sewing machine with a baby on her lap, and my brother on one side, and me on the other side as she created a garment. She made a variety of clothes for my Dad, yes – including a suit, shirts for my brothers and dresses for me. Even the lack of material during World War II did not hamper her creativity. She used printed feedsacks that had held chicken feed to be her ‘canvas’ for creating clothes. She made underwear, and when elastic was not available, she made drawstring underwear.

When I read from The Message, Colossians 3, I thought of Mom. Yes, she dressed me well as I grew up. The 12 – 14 verses say – So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.

As I read, even the first part of this scripture, I take a breath. God has chosen me to live a life of love. Then God wants me to make a spiritual fashion statement in the wardrobe He picked out for me. Just as Mom chose my wardrobe and laboriously sewed it with creativity, God wants me to wear spiritual clothing.

The very first garment is compassion. Suffering with another and wanting to relieve that suffering states one definition. Maturity enters in to the meaning of compassion. Am I mature enough to be compassionate?

The basic all-purpose garment is love. Wear it. Show it. Let it underly all other spiritual clothing. If there is not love, the other clothing won’t fit. Kindness, humility, quiet strength and discipline. Even-tempered and content with second place. This counts out the American #1 philosophy that is rampant today.

When Mom made my wedding dress, we decided to remove the bugle beads from her wedding dress and transfer them to mine. As I sewed each bead on to my dress, pricking my finger ocassionaly, wondering if I would ever finish, I thought about the love Mom celebrated with each bead. How she gave me her blessing through the gift. I thought about the love Mom and Dad had for each other and prayed that our marriage would have the same closeness.

As we begin layering our lives with the spiritual clothing, we often prick our lives when we falter, wonder if we will ever achieve the maturity we long for. It takes time to adorn ourselves with His garments of kindness, humility, quiet strength and discipline.

Then Colossians 3:15-17 continues, Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.

Peace – thankfulness – Letting His Word have the run of the house, Sing your hearts out to God. Do all in the name of Jesus!

When I was 16, I became weary of caring for my ‘special home-made’ clothes. The rocking chair in my room held the week of clothing, carefully draped across it. One day Mother wrote me a note, Dear Daughter, I came into your room and found all the clothing laying on the rocking chair and not hung up. I worked hard to make your clothes and you just throw them down. Please, hang them up. Love, your Mother.

I often remember that note, and wonder if I am throwing my spiritual clothing in a heap when I lose my temper, am impatient, and forget the basic garment of love. God has written us more than a note — a whole book — giving us a way of living that will bring joy, peace and love. God adores us. He sent his Son to die on the cross for us.

Let’s make a fashion statement for our Lord!

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