The Dress

Any woman knows how exciting it is to find something on sale.
When a woman finds something she likes on sale, she usually buys it.
When that something on sale is clothing, she may buy more than one.
If she buys more than one, the item will be in different colors with different accessories.

This is what happened to me over the weekend.
I got quite a few emails about a two-day sale.
I perused the different sale items online and kept coming back to one dress.
I was not sure which size would be best since it did not have numeric sizes.

I decided on the few I wanted to get, but found that they were all sold out online.
There was a box that I could click to check the availability in stores.
As I searched, I was pleasantly surprised that the store near me had the dresses I wanted.
I thought that I could call the store and see if they would hold them for me.

As I hovered over my local store, the hours popped up on my screen.
The store closed at 8:00 pm.
It was now 8:10 pm.
The sale was a half price sale, so I decided that I would call the next morning.

I called the store soon after they opened.
I told the girl my dilemma and asked if there was any way she could honor the 50% off sale.
Do you have the dresses in your online shopping cart? She asked.
No, they were unavailable online but your store has them in stock, I explained to her.

Do you still have the email on your phone? She asked.
I do, I told her, it is the email showing the dresses at the 50% off price.
We will be able to honor that sale if you show us the email, she explained.
Thank you, I plan to be there soon.

I was so grateful that the store would honor the sale price.
I was thrilled that the dresses were in stock.
I arrived at the store and saw the display as soon as I walked inside.
I chose the dresses that I saw online and added one more color as well.

I was very excited and knew just the accessories to go with them.
I decided that I would wear one of the dresses when I taught Bible study a few days later.
It is always nice to hear that someone else likes something that you like as well.
One of the women admitted that she bought a dress as well, in a different color.

I taught for an hour and half and felt very comfortable in my new dress.
After Bible study was over, some of the women came up to talk to me.
One sweet woman stood off to the side a bit.
She approached me after the others walked away.

I just want to tell you something, she said quietly.
It’s not a problem and I don’t think anyone else could see, she continued.
There is a tiny hole in your dress up near the shoulder, she said in a whisper.
It’s not on the seam, it’s actually a hole in the fabric itself, she told me.

I thanked her.
I told her that I just got the dress and that I would take it back to the store.
I did just that after everyone left.
I drove to the store with the dress, the tag, and my receipt.

There were only a few dresses in that color left on the rack.
I saw one in my size.
I took it up to the register and told them the reason why I wanted to exchange the dress.
The girl picked up the dress and said, this happens all the time.

What does? I asked, not understanding.
When the clothing comes in, it arrives in boxes, she began.
Sometimes when we open the box with a box cutter, we accidentally cut the item on the top.
We don’t know about it until someone like you brings it back into the store.

She was gracious and apologetic.
She made the exchange quickly and I left the store with an uncut dress.
I thought about her explanation as I drove home.
Sometimes when we open the box with a box cutter, we accidentally cut the item on the top.

How often, out of carelessness, do I cut someone with my words?
How often, without meaning to, do I just slice right through, unintentionally?
My words, your words, can cut like any box cutter.
Our words are meant to inform, or correct, or explain but they often slice, and tear, and damage.

When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.  Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.  The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind,  but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. (James 3:3-10)

No one can tame the tongue.
With our tongue we praise and curse.
With our tongue we build up and tear down.
That should not be.

Our tongue is our own personal box cutter.
It cuts aimlessly and carelessly.
It leaves tears in things so that they must be mended.
How we need God, the Maker of our tongue, to tame our tongue so that we glorify Him.

I’m glad I have a dress without a hole in the fabric.
However, I will never forget why the dress was cut in the first place.
We have the same destructive power within us, in our untamed tongue.
Lord Jesus, we need your help, so that every part of us praises You and gives You glory.