http://justcallmerie.blogspot.com/2009/10/youve-come-long-way-baby.html
I promised you a part 2, and here it is.
Today's apron has come a long way since the 12th century. Like aprons, we do not have to stay the same. Unchanged. Unmoved. Stifled. We can grow and blossom and bloom into the beautiful creature God intended for us to be - but only if we prepare ourselves. Like today's aprons we can be beautiful with a purpose. Our Father's purpose.
I challenge you all, if you don't already have one, to find an apron you love and begin wearing it. It will make you feel pretty and powerful. More importantly, find within yourself your purpose - and wear it proudly. Stains and all.
My sister, P., will not blog. She says she knows her weaknesses all too well. I think she's not giving her strengths enough credit. I enjoy her writings often and wanted to share them with you - and, as usual, when I ask, she gives. I'm six years older than she, but for years now I have been wondering exactly who is the big sister here.
Enjoy my guest blogger - my sister, P., and her musings on aprons. Be careful, she'll get 'ya thinking.
Have you ever known anyone like this? No matter where they are—fine restaurant, cheap fast food, or at their own dinner table—they are going to drop something on their shirt. Maybe you are this person, I know I am. I have a friend that used to laugh at me about it, but has recently discovered that she is fast becoming a part of this special breed. The problem for her is that she hasn’t been like this for long. Thus, she hasn’t learned the fine art of checking EVERYTHING in case it needs to be sprayed BEFORE you wash it! She has ruined quite a few shirts lately because of this fatal error.
I not only have this problem when I eat, I also have the “spillage” problem when I cook. Since I bake often it is not uncommon for my sweet husband to come home and find me much dirtier than when he left for work. Then one day I got a brilliant idea: why don’t I wear an apron?
It is amazing the thoughts that go through my brain sometimes.
Now, in some areas, I am not a simple person. Most of my ideas are not-so-simple things. When I get ideas, I get ideas! I have a friend (the same one who is now a sister-stainer) that often laughs at my inability to just do something. She says that I wander … you know what I mean. I will get an idea and then make the statement, “I wonder (wander) if I could make it better if I did this or that?” I am never satisfied with just using the same ol’ wheel. I have to reinvent it. So, when I got the brilliant idea of an apron, I had to find the “perfect” one. Thus began my googling search for an apron pattern. And, I found it. I spent way too much on the pattern only to have it arrive and discover that the apron was cute, but not sufficient to cover my entire boob area. I hate those one-size-fits-most things.
This is where my sweet husband came in. He is really great at just about everything. Do you have one of those?
He drew some new strap pieces for me and redesigned the main part so that it would cover most of my rear. (I have that bad habit of wiping my hands on the sides of my rear instead of a towel … oh well)
Finally I got what I was looking for! Now I can enter my kitchen (actually, my sister says that I never leave it) and not get disgusting while I cook. My apron has just the right amount of material to offer ample coverage for my boobies and my rear. I even have a rather large pocket on the front. I only use it for my cell phone, but I like it the size it is. This apron does an excellent job of keeping me clean.
Did you know that the Bible speaks of aprons? Well, not exactly in the term “apron,” but the idea is similar. In Ephesians 6, Paul writes to the people of God about being “strong in the Lord” (v.10). He tells God’s people that they should “take up the full armor of God” (v.13). Verse 14 also instructs them to “put on the breastplate of righteousness.”
Did you see the apron? It is called the "breastplate of righteousness."
Can you tell that I am a girly-girl? Most everyone else sees “knightly” armor like King Arthur would have worn, but no, not me. I see an apron.
Even though Paul discusses several different pieces, I just want to look at the breastplate of righteousness (the apron). Romans 3:10 tells us that “there is none righteous, not even one.” Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:33 that we should “seek first His kingdom and HIS righteousness.” Second Corinthians 5:21 states that “He (God) made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin to be sin ON OUR BEHALF, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
You see, when I put on my breastplate of righteousness, I am putting on Christ’s righteousness. And His righteousness is more than sufficient for any “mess” I might face during my day. The Bible tells us that “His strength is perfect” (Phil 4:13) and that “…God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able ” I do not have to worry about my breastplate of righteousness being too small in some areas. God knows exactly what size I need (unlike my one-size-fits-most apron pattern).
When I put my apron on I am ready to do battle … kitchen battle. I can handle just about any mess that will come my way. It becomes my covering as well as my towel. I can face my counter top and my stove with confidence!
The armor of God does the same for a Christian. We become outfitted to do battle—spiritual battle.
So, how’s your spiritual apron? Are you wearing it today? If not, spend some time seeking first His kingdom and then go put that other apron on and make something chocolate to celebrate!
“I will rejoice greatly in the Lord, my soul will exult in my God; for He has clothed me with garments of salvation. He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.” Isaiah 61:10 nasb
