Deciding what I’m going to wear to work tomorrow is not going to be difficult. I wear scrubs every day. Truly, the biggest decision I’m going to make regarding my wardrobe in the morning is whether or not I’m going to search for the matching sock, or just grab whatever. I mean – most of the time my socks match, but honestly… sometimes, I’ve got the green shamrock “Happy St. Paddy’s Day” on the left, and Nurse socks on the right that say “show me your stethoscope.” If I ever get in an accident and wind up in an ER, it’ll be a good laugh for the staff. They might even know I did it on purpose.
But on Saturday and Sunday, it’s a completely different story.
Yesterday I was getting ready for an outing with some girlfriends. Just like back when I was 18, there were about five blouses and three pair of pants laid out across my bed when my friend texted me, “what are you wearing today?” I wanted to be comfortable because I knew we’d do a considerable amount of walking, but I also wanted to look cute. Cute for a 59-year-old, anyway.
Eventually, I chose the most comfortable outfit, and then tried on several pair of earrings before I settled on which ones looked best. Two of us wore yoga pants, and the third gal had to unbutton her pants on the way home, which had us all in stitches laughing. It was a really good Saturday.
Ladies, you get this, don’t you?!!
I was reminded of Friday while running around at work in my scrubs and my “school shoes,” when a frequent chemotherapy patient came in all smiles in a very baggy, super soft and comfortable pair of sweat pants. She had her favorite blanket she planned to curl up in, her daughter by her side, and around her neck was a gorgeous string of beautiful pearls. “It’s my last chemo!” she said. “I’m so excited!” She shared with me that her Mom always told her to “be comfortable, throw on a pair of pearls, a little bit of perfume, and remember how pretty you are.” So that’s what she did for her last chemotherapy treatment. And when it was time to ring that bell, she got out her lipstick, put it on ever so proudly, walked intently down the hall, and didn’t give two hoots that all of her mascara was running down her face while she cried and rang that bell she’d looked forward to ringing for so many months. And ya know what? She looked so pretty 😉
I came home a little while later and got a text (with photo!) from my friend who is clothes shopping for an upcoming trip of a lifetime to South Africa. “Look! I can buy some butt lifter shorts! I didn’t even know there was such a thing! Rita, does my butt sag? Do I need these?”
I remembered that little nugget of wisdom I gleaned at work last week and answered her, “Nah. Your bum looks just fine, girl. Just be comfortable and get yourself some pearls. You’re beautiful just the way you are!” And she is.
When I think about what is most impressive about those I admire most, it’s their love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and their self control that is most attractive.
It’s NOT their wardrobe.
Oh, I’ll probably still take an hour and a half to get ready for church next week but… I’m pretty sure my socks will NOT match from now on. Ya know, just in case 😉
“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
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