August. Year after year the longest month in the Gregory household. Certain months just seem to fly by with activities and schedules. May, December-blurs of time. August? It is a painful drag.

When August rolls around, Sarah’s schooling is done until the fall. Sarah attends summer school in July for half days, 3 days a week. The purpose is so she won’t lose ground on her speech and other educational goals. She loves it! She would run to the bus each morning for a morning of structure and fun. Did I mention that each day ended with ice cream? I was told that was her favorite part of the day.

Now she is home. When Sarah gets bored, she gets destructive. We pull out crafts, watch Barbie videos and horse TV shows, but through it all, a favorite activity of Sarah’s is her multiple outfit changes.

Our little fashionista comes downstairs wearing a dress, with pants underneath and a shirt and cardigan or jacket over it. Did I mention this is August? After she spends an hour appreciating her outfit choice, she runs back upstairs only to return downstairs wearing leggings and a shirt two sizes too small. Later she emerges from her room wearing pjs. Usually, a wig is also worn to complete the look. This all can happen before noon.

If you think Sarah will wear these outfits again, you are surely mistaken. If I put them back in drawers or hang them back up, Sarah finds them and puts them in the hamper to be washed. I can take them out of the hamper and try again, but it is no use. There is no fooling Sarah!

We end up doing a lot of loads of wash in August!

I can laugh at it; I can get frustrated by it. There are days that it doesn’t affect me and days it really pushes my buttons.  

Do you have people like that in your life? There are things they do that just bother you?

This summer at church we have been studying the book of Colossians and I have been reading it over and over again. In Colossians 3 it speaks about removing things and putting on things.

A lot like Sarah and her clothing!

Colossians 3:5-9 speaks of getting rid of anger, rage, malice, slander, filthy language, and lying.  The things that belong to my earthly nature.

These are the thoughts and actions that I do in my frustration. They are heavy, they clash with my spirit, and let’s face it, they are downright ugly.

But in Colossians 3:12-14 it speaks about what I should put on instead.

Compassion. Kindness. Humility. Gentleness. Patience. Forgiveness.

I am trying something new this August. Each morning I am mentally ‘getting dressed’ with each of these qualities and imagining my response.

If I put on compassion, true heartfelt compassion, as if I was putting on a shirt, what would my response to Sarah look like?

If I clothe myself with kindness or mentally think of putting on patience what would my words and actions be?

I love the last part, in Colossians 3:14 it states to put over all these things love that binds them all together.

Like every good outfit, the finishing touch is the accessories. Love is the coat that pulls the ensemble together.

My love for Sarah covers it all.

Doing this exercise has been convicting and eye opening.

It has been the mental image I have needed this past month.

It also hit me…this is how Jesus responds to me.

I have given Him every right to be frustrated or annoyed by my actions. Sarah has severe autism, I do not. Instead, He is the perfect example of all these things. He has great compassion, His loving-kindness knows no end, He is so gentle and patient with me. He forgives, restores, and loves me.

It is as if He is giving me His compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, and love as clothing to wear as my own.

“Here Jill. I know what today holds, so I am giving you this to wear so you are ready….”

The best part? It always fits and goes with everything!

It looks like there are two fashionistas in the house!

Colossians 3:12-14, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”