All Dressed Up

My son Matt and daughter-in-law Becca own two wiener dogs, Andy and Chloe. Before they decided to keep Chloe when she came to them from the organization that they foster dachshunds through, Andy was an only dog. And he was the epitome of an only "child" to Matt and Becca. They doted over him and taught him all kinds of tricks (my personal favorite being when they ask Andy how girl dogs pee and he squats ... cutest thing ever, trust me) and even called him "King Wiener." Sometimes Matt comes up with these weird little sayings ... remember a former blog when I talked about his penchant for nicknaming everything and everyone? Well, not too long after Andy (Anderson Cooper Johnson if you want to be formal) joined their little family, Matt would take Andy's long doxie ears and turn them ... well, kind of inside out and lay them flat against his head. And then he would say, "All dressed up!" in this little singsong voice. "Look, Grandma Terrie ... Andy's all dressed up!" I know ... it's weird, but cute at the same time.

Not long after Ollie the wiener dog joined Julie and me, I began to notice that he flaps his ears back all by himself from time to time. And each time he does, I hear myself say, "All dressed up! Look, Julie ... Ollie's all dressed up!" I know ... even more weird that I picked up Matt's odd little saying and am now saying it out loud in my house with no one else around to hear it but me and my dogs.

I've been thinking a great deal about being all dressed up lately because my daughter Meg is getting married at the end of May. She and I went dress shopping a while back, and she chose a dress for me to wear to the wedding ... a short little black number with a wrap thingy for my shoulders. The fact that I just used the words "wrap thingy" is probably a good hint that I'm not much of an all dressed up kind of gal. My idea of the absolute best outfit in the world involves a thermal undershirt, flannel shirt, overalls and hiking boots ... short little black dresses with wrap thingys, not so much. But ... I love my daughter, and because I do, come May 28, I will be all dressed up for her. On that day, I'll don the beautiful black dress for Meghann and Barrett's wedding ... I'll have on pretty jewelry and make-up, and hopefully, it will be a good hair day. But everyone who truly knows the real me will know that the minute I get home after the reception, I'll be in shorts and a T-shirt faster than lightning.

Now here's the thing ... and those of you who read this blog faithfully know where I'm going ... here's the gigantic lesson God has for me in thinking about the whole all dressed up premise. I can't help but draw the comparison between what I wear on the outside and what I wear on the inside. How many times do I try to get all dressed up in my heart or my soul so that I look good to others? How many times do I try to cover up my scars or blemishes or wrinkles so that I appear to be flawless? How many times do I throw on some bling so that no one can see the tarnished metal that lies beneath the surface? How many times indeed?

You know, Lord, when I'm real and when I'm just all dressed up. You know my heart, Father ... when no one else does, you know my heart. I long to be clothed by Your hand, Lord, to be dressed in Your righteousness, to wear Your love, Your forgiveness and Your grace.