Originally published Tuesday, 03 September 2013.
My choices reveal more of the inner woman than I usually care to decipher.
Meditating on the motive behind my desires or frustrations with self and in relationships is a common practice of mine. I should question my own because, don't all troubles really start with some stronghold that needs to be overcome? Truth be told, I should question other people far less to save me time in needless worry or overanalization.
I recall one Sunday morning in particular that my motives should have been questioned. Emily was ready wearing the dress of her choice and with her hair combed in the most obedient fashion... or at least that is what I am presently recalling. As I was gathering all the necessities for church I noticed that Emily had chosen her worn play-clothes flip flops as the final accoutrement.
I did what any caught-in-the-temporal-mother would do,"Emily, are you sure you want to wear your play shoes instead of your nice flip flops to church?"
I had planted the seed of doubt and want without thinking of the consequences to my daughter's view of how a woman should adorn herself.
Do not let your adorning be external-- the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear-- but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious.
1 Peter 3:3-4
I then reaped what I sowed, a beautiful little girl standing her ground in her choice. That is... until... it was time to buckle-up. Then, she wanted to wear her beautiful new Yellow Box flip flops!
Already hopelessly upset over such a trivial matter I gave way to the crying and whining and muttered unnecessary words while retrieving the more desirable flip flops.
It was the picture perfect start to Sunday worship of our Creator... in packaging alone.
Amidst worship and soul-searching, I remembered a valuable nugget, it is not about the condition of our clothes, but the condition of our heart before God. I humbly expressed this truth to my daughter and prayed that I will choose more wisely the next time.
Sometimes a difficult and challenging experience ushers in the teachable point we so desperately need to grasp. Like a well timed refreshment to my soul, this truth hit the spot.
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