extravagance

Has anyone by fussing before the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? If fussing can't even do that, why fuss at all? Walk into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They don't fuss with their appearance—but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them. If God gives such attention to the wildflowers, most of them never even seen, don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you?
Luke 12:25-28 The Message

Jade loves to dress up. From head to toe. Shoes and accessories. The whole shebang. Pretty things too. The little thing will even color coordinate her panties. LOL :) For her kindergarten graduation a close family friend bought her FIVE new dresses. Yes. Not one. Two. Three. Or Four, but five. Five new dresses... (She has her favorite picked out with the matching hair bow and sandals on top of her dresser. Graduation is still five days away!)

I could tell you the story of how this came about in a long and drawn out form, but basically Jade speaks her mind freely never holding back... and at certain points in time she sucks unsuspecting people into her little world with her charming giggles. Needless to say... :)

At first I struggled with the very extravagant gifts. Until the giver told me it was a promise that was made to Jade that couldn't be taken back. Then how could I rob the giver of this? (Marty and I did speak to Jade about it though... oh the little monster we have created!) As I was hanging up the sweet dresses in her little closet I was reminded of the Scripture above. And how the Lord "clothes" us with His provisions. That He adorns us with beauty and extravagance beyond any of the newest styles and fashions. Mercy. Peace. Joy. Comfort. Love. So I imagined the giver of the dresses to be our Heavenly Father. I imagined Him spoiling us with His provisions... even more that we can ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20). He knows not only our needs, but His perfect provision extends far beyond what is pretty and stylish. It reaches in to out hearts and nourishes our souls.

So who received the greatest gift for Jade's graduation? I would argue that the example of selfless and overly abundant provision was in fact given to me... and I won't even be in new digs. :)