From early on my childhood memories of Easter are happy ones. There was always church. Easter egg hunts and baskets. And something pretty to wear! Patent leather shoes shined. A little purse usually white. Sometimes lacy gloves and a hat. Mom looking so pretty and Dad cleaned up nice! Visits to Grandma and Grandpa for dinner or just a visit after. But usually an extended family gathering.

Fast forward to the years I was a young Mom of many children. I followed in many of the traditions with a more modern twist or two. Definitely we went to church but it was the Vineyard not our childhood churches. We colored eggs with our kids and hid them over night to be hunted in the morning. Everyone got a basket with goodies. And new clothes. Somehow that was really important to me to do for them even if I couldn’t for myself in tight times.

That brings me to my point. Lately I have been posting a scripture a day as “Morning Meditations On..” on my Facebook page. February was on the Heart. March on the Soul. This month, April, is on What To Wear. The reason is because it was a lesson the Lord taught me back in those days one Easter season.  We had, for whatever reason I don’t remember right now, encountered a severe financial crunch. I was not going to be able to do what I had been used to doing. At least not entirely. I knew God was my Provider yet He was about to provide differently than I was looking for. He was going to empower me to live in joy beyond my present circumstance. 

He directed me to scriptures on what to put off and what to put on. You know like I would change out of pajamas or work clothes into my best clothes. So yes I would still dress nice and my kids and husband too but there was something more important than a new dress…that inward beauty of the heart that He calls precious in His sight.

1 Peter 3: 3-5  Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— ⁴ rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.

Oh Lord I do want to KNOW You it’s true but You are asking me to lay something down and die to myself. Oh that’s right! I said I was Yours bought with the precious life you gave for me. I remember the fervent prayer of consecration ” I will go anywhere, do anything You want me to do.” But I must have thought (naively)that meant as a Missionary somewhere in another country. I was learning to allow the Word of God to live in me and renew me. To be used right here in my little town, in my own family and neighborhood circle. But not all the lessons were exciting. Some I was even plain old glad to be finished with, not realizing I was taught so they would be life long tools to be used.

Colossians 3:12  Clothe yourselves therefore, as God’s own chosen ones (His own picked representatives), [who are] purified and holy and well-beloved [by God Himself, by putting on behavior marked by] tenderhearted pity and mercy, kind feeling, a lowly opinion of yourselves, gentle ways, [and] patience [which is tireless and long-suffering, and has the power to endure whatever comes, with good temper].

I know God is not against us having lovely things to wear as my closet and likely most of yours will attest. But there are some things that are enduring, that moth and rust can not damage. A character that is purified. Perfect no, not likely, but hidden in Him. Enter Easter of 2020. I have never, as I am sure many of you can say, experienced this type of quarantine though some among us still may have memories of the Depression. Limits on shopping for “non essentials” and for so many limits due to loss of income. Enter the tool from the lesson on What To Wear.

I am just going to pull my Momness out here and say “I am so proud of you. You have risen to the challenge of our season. You are learning fresh what has true value discerning what is good but not absolutely critical to life, health and peace. You will pass this test. You will come through smarter, refined, stronger and with new appreciation for the things by God’s grace, freedom in our Nation affords.”