What to Wear to a Memorial Service and with God

Speaking at Vonette’s Memorial

What to wear!?! I had to find just the right outfit to wear. I really wanted the way I dressed to please her.

The person I wanted to please? Vonette Bright. The occasion? Her memorial service—I was sharing briefly about her influence in my life.

Why did it matter? Vonette was a very proper lady. She loved to dress up and always sought to be appropriate. She was consistently though informally mentoring me over many years. I’m sure she often felt I was hopeless—my casual preferences did not match her classic style.

Over time I learned to wear what moderately pleased her and still felt comfortable to me. And over time she accepted that mix—and acknowledged I should be myself.

But for her memorial service, it had to be right for her. What to wear mattered. After several hours online and visiting eight stores, I found it. A new black jacket and a new red blouse, over a classy black skirt Vonette had bought for me 15 years before.

I’ve noticed that our Lord also has high standards for how we dress. He recognizes who we are, our personalities, our style. But He’s given some clear preferences—yes, even instructions—for how we clothe ourselves to honor him. The Apostle Paul writes:

12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 

13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 

14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. (Colossians 3:12-14)

I don’t think this is just about what to wear to church. He’s telling us how to clothe ourselves as we walk through life with Him.

Over the next few months I will be writing about what to wear, according to Colorssians 3. Read along—maybe together we can update our styles and refresh our spiritual wardrobes.

What about you? Do you need some new clothes?

C2016 Judy Douglass

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