Is There A Dress Code?

Forewarning:  God and I have our own special relationship.  Do not judge it.  I don’t judge the one you have with Him.  There is no “right” way.

Today at school a 1^st grade girl asked me if I would be going to the Mother’s Mass tomorrow.  I said, “Yes.”  Then the little girl next to me asked what pajama bottoms I would be wearing.  A little boy next to her said, “She can’t wear pajamas.  She’s going to church.”

This got me thinking.

I do wear pajamas just about everywhere I go.  I do make exceptions to the pajama rule when going out to nice dinners, to the theater, church, funerals, and weddings.  You know, not Wal-Mart.  I guess the rule in my mind is that if I’m going to take a shower and put make-up on then I’m probably going to wear jeans or capris.  However, pajama bottoms go on immediately when I return home.

God and I have this special time when we chat.  It’s in the shower.  We have this whole “cleanse my body, cleanse my soul” thing working.  We all know God is a good listener, which is a must when you’re stuck in a small place with me.  Tonight I was chatting away about this and that when I brought up the subject of pajamas at church.

I shall paraphrase our conversation:

God:  Krista, if I came to your house for a visit how would you great me at the door?

Me:  First, I would be wearing my polka dot pajamas because they are festive.  Then I’d say, “Welcome to my home.  Come on back to the kitchen, I’m finishing up the meal.  Hey, do you want something to drink?  A Coke?  A glass of water?  Some wine?

God:  Sure.  I’d love a glass of wine.  Do you have anything from Italy?

Me:  Absolutely. 

God:  I just want you to know that when I come to your house I feel comfortable and I know you want me here.  I know I can be myself and we can chat and laugh and sometimes cry and do all the things that a Father and Daughter would do together.  You’re easy going and I always look forward to seeing what pajama bottoms you will be wearing.  I really like the blue paisley.

Me:  God, I’m so glad you feel that way.  My home is always open to you.  Also, I really want to thank you for telling me to mouth the words to the songs during Mass.

God:  I really want to thank you for doing so.  You can hit a softball like crazy, but, girl, you cannot carry a tune.  You just keep singing loudly INSIDE your head.

Me:  Works for me.

God:  Do you know what else I like about you?  I like that you embraced that I made everyone different.  I like that you have your own style.  Your own thing.  A lot of people are afraid to be the only one doing something their own way.  There are a lot of people all doing the same thing.  They miss the little things as well as the big things that are happening all around them. 

Me:  I love that you appreciate my uniqueness. 

God:  I saw you do something the other day that I thought was pretty cool.  As you were driving away from McDonald’s, in your mirror you saw a little boy run to his car and drop his smoothie on the ground.  You turned your van around and drove back to him.  I saw in your heart that you were going to go back into that store to buy him another one.  Not a lot of people would take the time to do that.  Why did you do it?

Me:  I don’t really know the exact reason.  I just went back.  I drove up to their car and rolled down the window of my van.  I was about to call out to them when the manager of the store came out of Mickey Dees and asked the little boy’s mom what kind of smoothie he had.  The guy told the mom he was going to make a new one for the boy.  You don’t see that a lot.  I think I went back because you wanted me to see that exchange.  As I drove away my heart was smiling.  There is goodness in the world.  Thanks for showing that to me.

God:  Exactly.  Also, three large Cokes a day are way too many.  You need to cut back.

Me:  Fine.  Hey, you know how you said earlier that you like that I’m my own person?  Well, I’m going to wear pajama bottoms to Mass tomorrow.  What do you think?

God:  I think that the clothes you are wearing, the purse you are carrying, the amount of money you are donating, whether or not you are a good singer (Which, once again, is not your strength.), do not define more than the material things that you have.  No matter how much you spiff it up or down, the outside doesn’t matter, what’s on the inside is where the real beauty lies.  Wear your pajamas.  Your heart sings (and again, not your mouth).

Me:  I’m really glad you said that, because when I do “dress up” I don’t feel comfortable.  I don’t feel like me and I think you want me to be me.

God:  Makes sense to me.  One more thing, do you remember what my son, Jesus, wore?  He wore robes, basically a nightgown.  I think your pajama bottoms will be just fine.

Me:  That is so great!!!  I actually have a special kind and I think you are going to like them.  I have my business pajamas (the striped ones); I have the ones I wear to work in the school because the younger kids like them (Tweety bird, Eeyore, monkeys,); and my Spring, Winter and Fall patterns.  Recently I got a pair that I have been saving because they are fantastic!  I love them!!!  I’m going to wear those, with my Birks since Jesus wore sandals.

God:  I look forward to seeing them tomorrow.  By the way, what’s for dinner?

Me:  I made some bread, fish, cheese, dates, figs, and more wine.  All of your favorites.

God:  Sounds delicious!  You don’t happen to have any apple pie?  I love apple pie.

Me:  Really?  I thought it would be Angel Food Cake.