I went in to take a picture of my closet and decided against it…ha!
We moved a couple of months ago and downsized our closet, but not our wardrobes. Let’s just say, it’s a mess.
When I started this chapter, and as I read it, I didn’t think this was a big issue for me. It’s obviously not as big of an issue as food is (ahem)!
I’m just not into clothes…
I just recently started expressing interest in shopping for clothes (once or twice a year!). I was once the child sprawled out in the department store, complaining of “tired legs”, and whining about when we were going to go home!
I buy clothes twice a year; my birthday and Christmas. Fortunately, my birthday is in July. I can afford to buy clothes twice a year; once for summer, once for winter.
I still have clothes from high school, my daily wardrobe is a t-shirt and jeans. I dress up for church, but have only worn a dress twice in the last five years…both times were for weddings I was in. I have two pairs of dress shoes; one brown, one black. I don’t wear jewelry. I only wear my wedding and engagement ring.
My husband is a youth pastor. I should probably dress more “appropriately” for a pastor’s wife, but I don’t want to make a scene! Ya know, the one where you walk into church and everybody notices something’s different? No thanks! Our youth probably think I’m the most unfashionable woman alive and they always notice when I have a new outfit. It’s that bad!
I’m just not into clothes…
But, I still have a closet full of clothes I don’t wear. I’m still more fortunate than the majority of this world and like Jen, I’ve probably spent thousands of dollars on my wardrobe. Why? Is it to keep up with the rest of America, to impress friends, to have the latest and greatest?
Our church travels to Honduras each year with a medical missions team. They are there as I write this post. Each year we have a contest between the first and second hour Sunday school classes to see who can bring the most flip flops to send to Honduras.
A couple of years ago there was a story of a woman that received a pair of these flip flops when she came to receive medical care from the team. The next day, they saw the woman again as she held her flip flops in her hand and walked in her bare feet.
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It’s all about perspective…
The perspective of nothing and the perspective of too much.
We have too much. So much that we can’t even recognize abundant blessing in our closets.
Do you have an abundance of clothes? How has this chapter affected you?
You haven’t purchased the book, yet!? What are you waiting for! Buy yours here!
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This info is too much informative for me, kindly in the future keep updating us like this…
christmas gifts
After seeing this book on your blog, I want to read it.
I continue to find things we have in common. I’m not into clothes and fashion either! That’s rare to find someone else like that in blogland. I mean…yea…I do just enough to not look bad, but not enough that people would vote me “best dressed.” I’m the same way about shopping. I probably shop about 2 times a year.
This past spring, I did a MAJOR cleaning out of my closet and got rid of anything I couldn’t wear or hadn’t worn in a while. I had clothes from high school too. I was inspired after reading Kisses from Katie, which I would HIGHLY recommend if you haven’t read it.
It is all about perspective. I went on a mission trip to Mexico this summer and I went to the goodwill and bought some tshirts to wear on the trip. We also had to take an air mattress to sleep on. As we were packing to leave, I decided I didn’t want the air mattress and tshirts so I left them for the missionaries to give to people or use as needed. It made me think, how well of must we be that I have no problem leaving behind a $10 air mattress and about $15 worth of tshirts. These things that will be treasured by someone else.
Great post!
Megan,
I really need to do a major clean out…of a lot of things, not just my closet! Ugh, wish I was great at organizing, etc.!
I have followed Katie’s blog for a while (need to catch up) and LOVE HER! I’ve been wanting to get her book, also.
I think this book would be a great read for you…anyone, really!
I agree, we are very well off (ALL OF US!) compared to the majority of the world. And because it’s just “expected” and the “norm” in America, it’s ok to have and want more. Sooo not what Jesus would want for us…
Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
Hi Christie! Thanks for linking up on the Make My Saturday Sweet blog hop! It’s so nice to have you and it gave me the nudge to visit your blog again. I think you could donate some of those extra clothes to make space in your closet. Keep the stuff you adore and looks good on you. Sounds like a nice book club too. God bless!
Tina – mom of 4 and author of 5 blogs
http://abooksandmore.blogspot.com
Christina,
Thanks for stopping by again! I am definitely looking into donating many of those clothes in the coming weeks. I’ve got to get myself motivated to do the “task” associated with it! 😉
Christie
Hi, thanks for stopping by my blog! Ironically I’m reading 7 too! Loving it so far.
Lori,
So excited to hear you’re reading, also! Stop by when you have a chance and let me know how it’s going!
Christie
Thanks for stopping by my blog! Ironically I’m reading “7” too! Loving it so far.
Hi there!!! Stopping by and also following via Saturday Sweet Blog hop!! Look forward to reading more posts and I LOOOOOVE the name of your blog, always nice to meet fellow Christians!
Jessica
http://takeitlikeamommy.blogspot.com/
Ah, 7. Read it and love it. I was even part of a blogging book club with it last spring! One of the ideas I loved from this chapter was a clothing swap. I’m coordinating one with my church and everyone I’ve talked to so far is really excited about it. Thanks for stopping by my blog, by the way!
I read this book this summer and loved it, but I’m not doing the book club thing since it was so recent that I read it.
Umm, the clothes chapter, I would have a slightly large issue with because I LOVE clothes! I think this is a carry over from being a frumpy homeschooler until halfway through college and then studying abroad in France (fashion headquarters) and vowing to never go back to Frumpland. You’re so right that we have too much…after reading this chapter, I even went and cleaned out a few boxes of clothes from my kids dressers. And they STILL have too much!
Thanks for stopping by Warrior Wives…hope to see more of you!
Elizabeth@Warrior Wives
Hi! I found your blog because you found mine! (and I’m so glad that you did!) I’m your latest follower and can’t wait to read more of your posts! Have a blessed week!
Hi! Just wanted to thank you for following 🙂 And happy that you did, because it led me to your blog! Excited to follow along with you as well.
Kera @ http://nuggetonabudget.blogspot.com
Hi! I like your Post & Blog. I am a new follower in GFC from Blog hop. I hope your visit!
Namaste!
http://www.mamiholisticaygenial.com
This really sounds like a book I would enjoy! I definitely have way too many clothes, which is really ridiculous because I never wear the large majority of them. My kids also all have way too many clothes. I helped a friend sort and giveaway clothes last week and now, reading this, I’m doubly inspired to get it done.
Thank you for linking up with the GtKY hop! I hope to see you back next week!
So love that you all collect flipflops for missions. And that story of the woman who received them sharing their worth with you all…humbling. Jen’s book is on my wish list to read. I so love what I have heard about the book fro friends like you who are reading it. Thanks so much for sharing! Blessings!
Thanks for commenting on my blog! Following back and can’t wait to get to know you – excited to meet another Christian blogger also! We’ll have to connect otherwise also!
I haven’t read this book, no idea actually what is even going on really, but I must say – I’m totally on board with this whole line of thought. In fact, it was our major lesson last year. How very, very little we actually NEED in order to survive – even in our culture of having to pay for everything from rent and groceries and cars and gas down to clean water, heat, and food. And how much larger our responsibility as Christians really is to those in need – both those around us in the every day and those who don’t even have access to those basic needs of food and clean water.
Hits home for me, and I’m in the camp of having too many clothes and not really caring about fashion or clothes at all! Why? Time to downsize! Again!
Great post!
So very true, thank you for the reminder about perspective and how we take so many things for granted. I have way too many clothes that I don’t wear either. Sadly a lot of those are because I have gained weight and just can’t let go of my skinny clothes… (PS thanks for linking up at Motivating Monday on CEO of Me!)