The Exchange

This was a day of purposeful errands.
Three different stores.
Three different returns.
Why don’t you just get a label and send them back? My husband suggested.

Because that’s harder, I answered him.
He really didn’t understand.
He doesn’t realize that I just might find something to replace what I was returning.
He doesn’t realize that going out and having time to myself in the car is quite nice.

I planned my route, trying to drive to each store in a methodical way.
Two stores were near each other.
The last one was on the way home.
I returned the three things to the three stores and came home with no new packages.

It was at the last store, where I heard myself say it.
It came from somewhere; even the woman behind the counter smiled at me.
Is there anything wrong with it? She asked.
No, It was just cuter on the hanger, I said in response.

Did I really say that?
It was cuter on the hanger.
Was that true?
Where did those words come from?

I didn’t like the shirt.
I thought I did when I saw it on the rack.
Nothing can be tried on during Covid, so you take your chances when you bring it home.
It fit, but it wasn’t me.

What did I mean by my comment?
How can something be cuter on the hanger?
The hanger has no life, no figure, and no movement.
It was not my style; it was not flattering.

I was just telling my daughters that I am going through my closet and ridding out.
I am going through my clothes and giving many things away.
My style is changing.
I am changing.

Things I liked to wear once, I no longer like to wear.
They are not me anymore.
What does that mean?
Not me any more.

My youngest daughter goes through her closet frequently.
When she lived at home, her sister gently teased her that she had nothing left in her closet.
Of course, that was not true.
She just wanted to have classic pieces that she could mix and match.

She decorated her apartment in the same way.
She is artistic and very creative.
She can make the simplest thing into something quite special.
You’re a minimalist, I told her, meaning it as a compliment.

Cuter on the hanger.
A minimalist.
Not me anymore.
Not my style.

We change.
We see some changes and notice that what was once fine is not fine anymore.
We don’t see other changes that are happening inside us..
That kind of change, others may have to point out to us.

I rejoice greatly in the Lord, I exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation and wrapped me in a robe of righteousness, as a groom wears a turban and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. (Isaiah 61:10)

When God dresses us, it is always perfect.
We will never say, it’s not my style or it looks cuter on the hanger.
When we come to Jesus, our filthy rags of sin are removed and we are clothed in Jesus’ righteousness.
In Him, we don’t need our former wardrobe; we have new garments appropriate for eternity.

When we come to Jesus in faith an exchange is made.
Our filthy clothes are exchanged for Jesus’ garments of salvation.
We are wrapped in a robe of righteousness.
We are beautiful and our clothes are splendid.

I was not thinking heavenly thoughts when I made my comment.
But as I pondered my remark, it was so fitting.
My clothes, before salvation, were only appropriate on the hanger.
They were clothes that were not fitting for my new life in Christ.

After being saved, Jesus dressed me in robes of righteousness.
Jesus dressed me in garments of salvation.
They fit me.
They are perfectly suited for my Life in Him.

I came home with no new packages.
I did not make an exchange.
Nothing suited me.
I have the best possible clothes I could ever have, thanks to my Lord Jesus.

How are your clothes?
Do you need to rid out the clothes that are only cute on the hanger?
Do you need to be dressed by the One who can fit you perfectly?
Come to Jesus for the exchange.