(Alicia Silverstone as Cher Horowitz, one of my early style influences)
I gave up clothes shopping for Lent. Part of me is ashamed to admit this, because it’s such a privileged, first-world “sacrifice” to make. I struggle with certain aspects of Lent and hadn’t observed it in a while. But this year, I wanted to do something that would honor God in some tiny way and also be spiritually beneficial to me. The weekend before Ash Wednesday, I came home from the overstock clothing store with a bag full of amazing deals, and suddenly knew what I needed to do.
For the last several years, I’ve shopped too much. Not overspent – most of the time I don’t even buy anything. Just performed the act of shopping too much, in my opinion. It started as an emotional Band-Aid in the last couple of years of my marriage, and briefly escalated after that was over. In small doses, I think it was and is fine. But I don’t need it anymore, and it was time to show it who’s boss, to refocus my priorities and react to unpleasant emotions in a more productive way.
I’ve mostly been excited about this. But, three weeks in, I have to admit… it’s getting tough, you guys. I LOVE FASHION. I miss perusing DSW.com and checking The Limited to see whether that dress I loved is on sale yet. But the difficulty is proof that I needed to do this, and that God has something to teach me through it. So I look forward to whatever that is!
As a friend of mine said, God will reward you for your sacrifice. Any time you make Him more of a priority, He does. I’m not even saying that shopping is a bad thing, but you’re making a point to focus more on Him, and that’s always a good thing. :)
Oh … I know how shopping (even when you don’t come home with stuff) can become such a habit! I find myself coming up with reasons to go because it gets me out of the house. Kudos to you for making this sacrifice and I know God will honor it and you will be blessed.
Where is the overstock store? I haven’t been to that yet…..
Half off Half in Bartlett. It’s like a TJ Maxx, but arranged and priced like a thrift store. Actually, I think most thrift stores are more organized!!
Thanks for the encouraging comments, guys. :)
[…] will help with a specific spiritual problem I’m having. In Lents past, I’ve given up shopping and chocolate. For the last couple of years, I banned myself from internetting or social media […]