Why We Won't Buy Clothes for Easter

Okay, so this post is going to offend a lot of people. Stop reading if you are offendable or prideful (which I am, so no judgement here). Also, I am NOT NOT NOT writing this post to make anyone feel bad. I want to write this post to encourage us to think outside the box, to grow a little past the confines of our society's blunders with Christian holidays.

It was a couple of years ago. I was feeling stressed out. Easter was fast approaching, and that meant buying the girls new dresses, new shoes, clean tights, candy, gifts, and so on. Now, I love shopping, but not when I HAVE to. Not when I HAVE to spend money on Easter dresses that are priced way too high, for example, and when my girls already have lots of dresses. And then there's me. I don't really like to wear white, flowery, springy kinds of clothes. I like dark, simple and sophisticated. But I think I read in a hymn book somewhere that you aren't supposed to wear black on Easter Sunday, so that means I have to go buy some silly, frilly thing that (God, forbid) only goes to my knees. And mothers understand: what the family wears on Easter must match, right? Because you'll be taking the family Easter pictures by that tree in your front yard and posting it on Facebook. Because you'll be with other family having a nice, big dinner. Because on this day some thousands of years ago, Jesus rose from the dead, and we must honor this special day. Simply put, on Easter, you have to look good. Real good. (Also keep in mind that I grew up a preacher's kid in a very traditional church setting. The preacher's family has to look real good.) 

So I was standing in the girls' bedroom, staring out the window at the gorgeous spring day, thinking, "What to do?" Draw some extra money out of the bank for all these new clothes...

Then it hits me. Why would I do this? Jesus was my offering. Jesus conquered death. He did not do these things so I could buy fancy clothes to show off on Easter. He did not preach on love and compassion and giving so I could spend a lot of my money on Easter clothes, when there are starving children, impoverished widows, hurting veterans, babies with no mommies. It hit me like a ton of bricks. 

We have nice clothes. We have a nice house. We don't usually have enough food, but that's because I don't have a grocery store in my back yard. If we did, we would have a lot of food. We have A LOT of stuff. We spend money on frilly stuff (like when I bought my baby a onesie with a bow tie on it for his baby dedication). So I'm not condemning myself and others for having nice things, though it is something I am trying really hard to work on: giving more, buying less, simplifying. But at least for this one day in the year, when Jesus himself brought light and life, I can reflect that.  

Friends, just think about it. Take a step back and ponder. WHY are you stressing and buying nice clothes for this one day in the spring, and is it really in line with the purpose of God? Are you doing it for God or for others? WHAT IF you took that money and blessed a poor family with a nice Easter lunch? Or bought a dress for a little girl that has just a few clothes items? What if we really celebrated Resurrection Sunday?  

WHAT IF?