Sunday, September 18, 2011

DRESS UP

We arrived at Tara and Justin's house last week and Tara brought out this special box. It was medium large in size and we were all inquisitive.  As she pulled the box open out erupted beautiful fabrics in every imaginable color. It was memorizing just to witness the box opening. These rich fabrics were her collection of dance costumes over the years of dancing.  After every performance her mother had carefully packed away the costume, collecting many years together in this one special box.

 Lady L was in awe of the colors and the fabrics and she reached out, eyes sparkling with a growing smile across her face. Tara carefully pulled each one out and spread them across the floor as Lady L ran between them giggling try hard to make a choice of a favorite one to put on.

In this life we are often faced with decisions about things. That is where my dad would say, "Laurie, have you made your list of priorities?" Artist friend from Colorado, Armella Benton, reminded me of that this summer when I was struggling with health issues and the heat. Sometimes we have very limited choices and other times we are overcome with too many choices.

Finally Lady L choose a beautiful pink netted dress with white dots and black ribbon. ( I wish I could show you the whole picture... it is awesome.) She even managed to hold her dress up as she waltzed around the room dancing in this floaty puffy netting.

Choices we make in life usually affect deeper things. Sometimes our choices affect other people.  Our negative choices often weigh heavily on those that love us, forcing them to make choices of their own creating a domino affect in a family.  With every choice is a consequence and we must always consider what will follow with the decisions we make.  
Brings back vivid memories of Sesame Street when they would run that story about 'IF I DO THIS...then this will happen, which will make this happen and then that will happen.'   Maybe we need to think about things in a simple way like this... Make your list first and then a second list of the things that could happen from your initial decision. 

Seems like in today's world the pressure is so intense we make hasty decisions often regretting them later in the day or even later in life.  Too bad life is not as easy as Lady L sees it.  It should be...God wants it to be.  He wants us to live our life and be happy, NOT stressed.

I had to throw in a picture of my outdoor boots for a laugh.... quite a contrast from Lady L's precious pink... but it brings me back to what I wanted to blog about this morning. Dress Up or dress down with boots?  Is it important to dress up to impress people with who we think we are?  That is where I was going  originally with this blog. What does your 'dress up' have to do with who you are?

James 2:2-4

New International Version (NIV)
"Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,”  have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts" 

Know a man/woman by their actions and their travels through life.  We all leave a trail on this planet with our choices and our actions. How we 'Dress Up' our lives and our appearance means very little if we are dark of heart.  Do not judge by appearance but judge by heart and actions. Those decisions you make today create changes in the future, basically echoing on forever.

Laurie          

2 Kings 1:1 "And when King Hezekiah heard it, he tore his clothes, covered himself with sackcloth and entered the house of the LORD."
 
GALLERY LINKS

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Word of the Heart to share.... by Laurie Pace