Say Yes to the Dress

Forgive me if you are a male reader for what comes next… being female is all I know… but, bear with me. It comes good in the end, and who knows, but you might even gain a little more insight into the mystery of ‘women’. …Maybe.

So, quick back story … I’ve been married for nearly 32 years. Designed the outfits for our bridal party with the help of my Mum (thanks, Mum)… loved every single detail on all of them EXCEPT my own dress. it was the best I could do for who I was at the time, but there were no wow moments with it for me. it was functional, pretty enough, and, well, me.

Move ahead 30+ years and I stumble across the TV programme, “Say Yes to the Dress”. I watch a few episodes and realise that all these brides have issues to come to terms with. The childhood idea they had of what they wanted may not work for their adult selves. They may have bits they are adamant to hide. Fears of being exposed.. Wrong body shape for the style they wanted. Afraid of committing to a dress … the list goes on. But there comes a moment for everyone of them where they find the perfect dress that embodies them, personality, figure, budget, style, etc., and EVERYONE gives a resounding yes when that moment comes. EVERYONE! It’s the magic moment when everything comes into alignment and the universe sings.

Along the way of watching I have thought about my own wedding dress and how I have changed over the years. I wanna go try on wedding dresses and find my perfect ‘now’ fit. Take some glamour photos and record my beauty. I want to be a beautiful bride. Now, I am not saying I was not beautiful before, but I did not think I was. Remembering Dr. Phil’s words of wisdom, we know that if I didn’t think I was, then that was my reality. But, I do know that Father has taught me many things and released many chains in my head, letting a new me emerge since those days…YAY!!! And I want to celebrate that.

I want to celebrate with my immediate family… hubby and the kids. But most of all I want to celebrate with Father. He’s the one who’s led me, wooed me, directed me to find peace with myself.He’s the one who knows me better than I know myself. I’ve never been particularly excited about the phrases in the Bible saying we are the ‘Bride of Christ’, or Books like “Song of Solomon”, but I’ve come to a new understanding lately. In order to become a beautiful bride I must Yada dimension 1 (See the facts about myself, good and bad) Yada Dimension2 (understand why I am that way) Yada Dimension 3 (Begin to have a real relationship with Christ) Yada dimension 4 ( allow Him in… deep in… raw in… face to face in) Then Yada dimension 5 (spiritual Intimacy with Him) and ‘Song of Solomon’ is all about a God who wants to be intimate with His people!

Adam had yada 5 when he KNEW Eve and she conceived and bore a son. In the process of knowing and being intimate with her, Adam planted his seed. From that intimacy there was fruit born. In the New Testament we are often referred to as the Bride of Christ. God wants to Yada with us every day. He wants to have an intimate relationship and have his seed implanted in us. That seed is His Holy Spirit who brings forth fruit in us. The fruit of the spirit is “Love Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, , Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control.” Fruitfulness is born out of intimacy. We must know God in detail and technical wisdom, leading to face to face encounters. Lots of Yada-ing.

We cannot bring forth what is not in us. To bring forth love we must have His love in us. We must have experienced it deep and intimately. To bring forth His patience, we must have imbibed of it lavishly. To bring forth His glory we must have experienced His presence in us. After each of my labours, (which were times of hard work and effort, rather than sipping drinks on a tropical beach), I was rewarded with, and am grateful for, a beautiful baby full of new life and promise. They came from a time of intimacy (yada) between my husband and myself. They were ‘in me’ literally, till their time to ‘come forth’ Colossians 1:27 says ‘Christ in you, the hope of Glory.”John 15:5 ,” If a man remains in Me & I in him, he will bear much fruit. Apart from me you can do nothing”.

It’s true! Without Him (God), I would NEVER have been able to make the changes I have made thus far. (SO, So, grateful) I agree with the Apostle Paul when he says “I want to know (yada) Christ and the power of His resurrection.” but to get there I must start the journey. I must say ‘Yes to the Dress”.