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.
Colossians 3:12-14 (MSG)
At the first hint of a chill in the air, I’m pulling on socks, cute leather boots, jeans and a sweater. It’s my basic autumn uniform — I suit up in it most days.
I have this one pair of boots — fabulous leather booties with a low heel that look amazing with my favorite jeans. At 8 a.m., I have high hopes for those boots. I keep thinking this will be the day they won’t kill my feet and require swapping them out for flats by 11 a.m.
And each day, I’m so wrong.
It’s disappointing how I can’t wear those boots more than a few hours before my feet call it quits. But while I love a cute pair of shoes, I also love not being in pain, so back into the closet they go by 11 in the morning. Sometimes it’s hard to choose another pair, even though I know the boots are not the best for me. They’re just so cute!
Often more difficult than that morning choice is choosing to pull on the one item Colossians says to be sure to wear: Regardless of what else you put on, wear love (Colossians 3:14 MSG).
It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.
Wearing love? That’s the good, hard, refining, beautiful, difficult, and wearying work of mothering. It’s easier to choose love when the kids are tiny and adorable, when timeouts and suckers fix most problems. But often, there’s nothing easy about choosing to love. Choosing to live out love in our actions, thoughts, and words can be a difficult garment to wear. During the fourteenth round of hide-and-seek. When you’ve asked them seven times to put their shoes on. When it’s just past midnight and they walk in the door late for curfew. When they tell you that they have a Greek-to-English alphabet poster due . . . tomorrow. When the principal calls — again. When you’re just not connecting with your teen. When your grown kids are raising their own kids but not the way you’d do it.
When we pull on love, we can wear it loud and proud. When we pull on love, we can fully know that it won’t let us down by 11:00 am like those darn boots. When we pull on love, we can trust God’s promises. When we pull on love, we’ll be clothed in the richest garment possible.
Maybe today, I’ll wear the slightly-less-cute-but-much-comfier boots. As I pull them up and head downstairs to greet the chaos of the morning, I’ll remember what I’ve chosen to wear first. When I pull on love, choosing to let it guide my steps more faithfully than my cutest boots, the path I take will lead me straight to all the compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience I need for the day.
Lord, help me choose to wear love today — even when it’s uncomfortable or difficult. Guide and lead me to your path, covering all that I say and do in love. Remind me throughout the day of the holy clothing I chose to put on first, and that those garments will never rip, tear or wrinkle. And help me keep them on past 11 a.m. Amen.
What gets in your way of wearing love? On the days it doesn’t fit quite right, how can you continue to seek compassion, kindness, humility, and quiet strength?
p.s. Do you have a pair of tall boots that fold over while in your closet? Here’s a pro tip: take a foam pool noodle leftover from summer swimming and cut it in half. Stick half of the pool noodle in each boot, zip ’em up, and your boots will stand straight and tall in your closet!
Thank you, Anna, for this beautiful reminder and challenge. Praying for you as I pull on my attire for the day. Choosing love gives me confidence I’m ready for today.
Thank you for the prayers Mary! Here’s to a great day.
I love this. Makes me wonder if I should get a special hanger to put in my closet as a visual aid to be putting on love as I chose that day’s outfit. It’s always the right fit, goes with anything even my less than physically unflattering tattered work shirt. Thank you for sharing.
I love this visual! Definitely gonna figure out a way to do this! ❤️ Have a blessed day!
Great idea, Ruth! Maybe we could use one of those dry cleaner hangers covered in paper, and write “love” on it!
Ooh i love that idea, Ruth!!
Even as a grandma I can relate to much of this post – Great, thoughtful “incouragement” for every day!
Thank you, Indiane! So glad you’re here!
Anna, you’ve done it again! Your wise words sprinkled with the spice of good humor. I love how you tell us important stuff! Well done! I’m 69 years young and I dress for comfort these days. I much admire “cute” but comfort wins. Even before 11 a.m. But please keep on giving those boots a try. We will live vicariously through you. Without the pain.
Irene, your comment made my DAY. Thank you! I just might pull those darn boots on and give ’em another try… again. Ha! 🙂
Thanks for sharing this timely reminder of this truth.
You’re so welcome, K.
What a fun and memorable metaphor, Anna! I’m visualizing love as a beautiful, soft, cape that covers “a multitude of sins,” and keeps us from behaving in unChristlike ways–a garment we enjoy wearing and others like to see us wear!
Love that imagery, Nancy!
i love that prayer at the end. I copied it into my journal.
So glad it spoke to you, Madeline.
As I read this all I could think was wow what a mantra for each day! Thank you.
Yes! May we try to remember each morning!
Anna thank you for sharing your heart. Yes we especially we that are saved our to wear love. Sometimes that can be difficult. Especially if someone especially if saved. Says something that hurts or they do something and they don’t realise it. That hurts. You can feel to yourself saying. Why should I love you. But we have too and forgive that person. Saved or not saved. You can find yourself saying. They should know better especially if saved watch what they say or do. They are saved. I am hurt. It could hurt deeply. I can see a person who is not saved doing that. It can hurt all the more especially when the person does it they are saved. So we have be big and brave and forgive them plus love them like Jesus does. As if we don’t it will only eat us up. They will not care that they have hurt you. It is the right thing to do in Jesus eyes. People in the Bible were that we read about. We some not nice to Jesus. But through it all Jesus still showed them love. He forgive them. If we want to live lives for Jesus we are to do the same. Love people of all walks of life. Saved or not saved. Like it says in the song I was taught at Sunday School when small. It goes “Jesus Loves Me this I know for the Bible tells me so.” You get the song on YouTube. We even as Adults are to do the same as this song. It is a good song for us Adults today. So we wear the Love clothing. If someone does annoy us by doing something in actions or words. That we are big enough to show love like Jesus did. By forgiving them. Not letting what they have done get to us. Then pray for them and ask Jesus to make them see their wrong. If they don’t see it. You will still be able to keep loving them and not let what they have said or done get to you. Love Dawn Ferguson-Little xx
Anna,
Wearing love is hard when I’m tired, & worn out from work/life. Dealing with difficult/demanding patients that want stuff & now wears me out. When I feel my love tank dwindling I simply take a break & leave the floor for a few. Take time to recharge & reset my compass helps me fill up again. Then I can go back & face all the patients God has given me for the day. Each day I try to shower my floor (ICU Step down at large hospital) with God’s light & love. I also take a few minutes where ever I am to pray for some patients, & co-workers. Also tell co-workers-especially cleaning, dietary & supply thank you for helping us out. Yes it is their job, but how nice to hear good job or thank you every now & then. It boosts moral.
Blessings 🙂