Dresses and Dreams

Her Aunt gave her a box of dress up clothes one year for her birthday. The box was full of dresses and gloves and hats and scarves. Jewelry and tiaras and sparkly things. She loved it. All of it. She dressed up from head to toe. She dressed her sister from head to toe. They went to pretend parties and pretend dinners. And of course, they went to their pretend wedding. Laughing and giggling and dreaming. I can still see her at that age. So happy. So full of life. So sure of what she wanted.


I stood in the corner watching as they pinned and tucked and talked about making everything perfect. She was standing there in a dress. The dress. The most beautiful long white lace dress I have ever seen. And there she stood looking and watching. Talking about how she wanted it to look. Still so sure of herself. So grown up and confident. So amazingly beautiful.


I just watched. Amazed at the woman she has become. Blessed to have been a part of the last twenty one years. So excited about the next few months. Blown away by the mercy and the grace of God. Humbled at the awe of it all.


As I looked at her, I saw the little girl and the woman all rolled into one. Playing dress up for real this time. My heart was so full. Overflowing. I just looked at her with the pure love that fills a mother's heart.


That is how He looks at us. He sees us pure and white. Washed in the blood and covered in His love. He loves us so. He delights in us. Amazing, isn't it?


Remember that today. How He loves you. How He sees you. How He adores you. Let that truth wash over you and fill you to overflowing.


You are fearfully and wonderfully made, sweet friends. Rest in that promise.

And we are His portion and He is our prize. 

Drawn to redemption by the Grace in His eyes. 

If His Grace is an ocean, we're all sinking. 

Oh, how He loves us!