Love It, Like It, or Back on the Rack?

Shiny black swimsuits draped from hangers on each finger. Thirteen of them, to be precise. With a $10 promotional gift card that came in the mail, and needing a replacement bottom for my swimsuit, I hit the clearance racks. 

It was my husband’s idea. When your man notices that your swimsuit bottom is too frayed and suggests you go shopping, you know you’ve waited too long! I agreed and raced off to the store. 

Piped in music joined me in the carpeted cubicle, as swimsuit after swimsuit took its turn in front of the mirror. The store had cleverly arranged three hooks across the dressing room walls with the captions “Love it,” Like It” and –far to the right—one that simply said,“Back on the Rack.” After trying on several of the swimsuit bottoms, I thought they should have added a fourth hook, reading, “Wow, that’s an unattractive place to put elastic leg bands!” What a humbling and hilarious adventure swimsuit hunting is, huh? 

Moving swimsuits from the Maybe/Like It category to the Love It slot, or throwing them on the “Back on the Rack” hook, I narrowed the options. Finally, trying on again the options in the Like it and Love it Category, I chose a winner. 

Today God whispers to me that I treat my spiritual life like a swimsuit hunt some days. Some attitudes and thoughts that I pick up are obvious “Back on the Rack” choices. Others attitudes, actions and thoughts border the line, though, and I find myself holding onto them in the Maybe pile. I know, God, that it’s not quite something you love, but perhaps it’s a maybe? I hem and haw to him. Items pile up on the Like It hook, some sin, some fine, but none of them Love Its. 

Lord, give me wisdom to discern, and the desire to send things back on the rack. 

(The swimsuit, by the way? I got it for only $4.99 after clearance and the promotion card. Don’t you love a good deal!) 

I love hearing from you. If you are reading this via email you can click here to leave a comment. What’s the best deal you got recently? Or, if you are feeling braver, what are some things on your Like It hook that you know you need to send Back on the Rack?