“I Said Yes to the Dress”

Anybody a fan of TLC’s TV show, “Say Yes to the Dress?”  I am.  I love to watch women find the wedding dress of their dreams.  They get to bring family and friends with them to help them decide on the perfect fit.  Randy is a very popular fashion director on the show.  Brides scream with joy when he shows up to help with their appointment.

I got to have my own “Say Yes to the Dress” moment at Low’s Bridal in Brinkley.  I was preparing for my wedding and wanted to look my best.  My mom and three friends were there to help me figure out the perfect look.  I went in with some ideas in mind but was open to whatever look the consultant thought would fit my body shape.

I tried on dress after dress.  I’m a glitter girl and wanted to sparkle from head to toe.  BRING ME BEADS, AND GLITTER, AND GLAM!  But they didn’t really look right on me.  Beautiful dresses but just not right.  Then the consultant said, “Alright I’m pulling this dress for you.  I think’s it the one.”  Let me tell you, when I saw the dress on the hanger, I thought “Really??”  However, I know from life experience that things often look better on the body so I gave it a try.

As she was lacing the corset back (which I definitely didn’t want), she started to sing “This is it!”  I didn’t share her enthusiasm.  Until I walked out of the dressing room and stood on the podium.  THIS IS IT!  It’s nothing that I wanted, but my Lord, I LOOKED BEAUTIFUL!  SOLD!

I said yes to the dress on Friday, but by Tuesday, I was saying yes to God.  See, planning a wedding is second nature to me.  I love parties, and food, and flowers.  I love pretty things. I love being pretty.  What I struggle with is being obedient to God’s voice.

I knew I had no business marrying this man.  God clearly told me “no,” but I thought I knew best.  I like to push issues with God.  Toe the line.  Try to get Him to see things my way.  Clearly, it doesn’t work like that.  So God spoke loudly and clearly to me on Tuesday, and I had to send out a text to say “sike, I’m not getting married.”

How embarrassing.  Humiliating.  Gut wrenching.  But necessary.  How difficult.  Humbling.  Stressful.  But liberating.  It’s never a good idea to say “yes” to a dress but “no” to God.  I hear in church all the time that obedience is better than sacrifice.  I now have a personal story that reminds me daily to be obedient.

So what do you do with a beautiful wedding dress that’s just hanging in your closet?  Sell it?  Put it on and eat ice cream and cry in it?  Give it to someone in need?

I kept it.  God gives us beauty for ashes.  I caused a firestorm with my disobedience, but God is gracious.  This is the dress I will wear when I marry the man God has for me.  The dress that I thought wasn’t my style has become a symbol of how much God loves me.  Obedience looks good on me, and I’m choosing to walk in it every day. #wepreach