What Are You Wearing?

This weekend, it poured love in my house. 

One of my best friends is getting married this summer, and we celebrated her bridal shower with mini-cupcakes and mega-balloons. We put out flowers and pom-poms and put on our fancy spring dresses and biggest smiles for the makeshift photo booth.  

 

From all outward appearances (you can confirm this on Instagram and Facebook), the shower was truly Pinterest-worthy. But that wasn't the praise-worthy part in my mind. 

For me, the beauty of the day appeared in a different fashion--a fashion that doesn't change to suit hipster whims and never fades or fails or goes out of style. 

For me, the beauty of the day came from the community. In the generosity of each of the women who attended. In the outpouring of love I witnessed. 

Even before gifts were opened or the greens with goat cheese, cranberries, and walnuts were enjoyed (told you it was Pinterest inspired), we chose a passage from Colossians 3 to share as a theme verse for the shower and as a prayer for the future bride and her husband.

  

"Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. (Colossians 3: 12-17 NLT)

As one of the bridesmaids, I had the honor of helping devise our love-showering strategy. 

What could have been a stress-filled, Bride and Bridemaid-zilla event, was anything but. 

Instead, this day was a day that was decked out in love. 

Instead of entitlement, I saw mercy.

Instead of cattiness, kindness.

Instead of arrogance, humility. 

Instead of demands, gentleness. 

Instead of irritation and eye-rolling, patience. 

And instead of comparisons and tearing down, I saw love. 

I was reminded of the rare gift it is to have a group of girlfriends who love each other, encourage each other, and support each other without a hint of mean girl drama. I met most of these women during my first state-your-name-hometown-and-major-in-one-breath week of college, and they have been like sisters ever since. 

And, like sisters, they have been teaching me and molding me and loving me ever since. 

This was just one day of many that they have shown me what it looks like for Love to put on clothes. And I can only hope their sense of fashion wears off on me. 

***

So what are you wearing? Who in your life would you like to influence the types of character you put on?