Time to Accessorize

Decisions, decisions. The veil. Bridal shoes and jewelry. Slip or no slip… Even though we ordered my daughter’s bridal gown last October, the accessories were yet to be determined — until this past weekend, that is. And now Kelli’s veil hangs in my closet, and the decision on the slip has been made. We didn’t have any luck finding the shoes or jewelry she wants, but at least she discovered the styles she likes.

So what prompted Kelli to go ahead and give her attention to these remaining details? The call we’d been waiting for finally came — the dress was in! With only a little over three months until the wedding, the bride and her mother (that’s us!) breathed a sigh of relief.

We wasted no time getting to Tulsa for the fitting. With her bridal portrait photo shoot still to be accomplished and alterations taking several weeks (we’re hoping for mid-May), everything else on our list of priorities got bumped down a notch.

All focus shifted to the dress and then quickly divided to include those all important accessories –the things that will complete the look, enhance the beauty, and pull it all together into a vision that will melt the hearts of all who see. And from the peek I got the other day, our Kelli is going to be a beautiful bride. And not just because the dress is gorgeous, and she is pretty, but because she’s in love and will be presenting herself to an adoring groom. Love will be the accessory that shines the brightest that day.

What about the rest of us in our everyday lives? What accessories do we wear that shine the brightest?

We may not be brides in the same sense that Kelli is right now, but as believers — as the church — the Bible refers to us as the Bride of Christ and details the accessories we are to wear. One passage says, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” (Colossians 3:12-14)

Like Kelli, is it time for us to accessorize? Do we need to put on some things as children of God? Things that will complete our look, enhance our beauty, and pull it all together in a vision, a vision that will melt the hearts of all who see? Let’s not waste any time. Let’s shine for Him!