Counting

Today is the big day.  I'm half way thru this 2nd month of "7" and I'm going to count my clothes.

All of them.

Socks (I'm counting by pairs cuz that's what I want to do), underwear, tank tops, tee shirts, dresses, pants, shoes, all of it.  

Except my jewelry.  Because I don't want to know.

I'm going to go ahead and guess I have about 100 articles of clothing.

Be right back...

Um, I was slightly off in my guess.  Off by 68.  I have 168 articles of clothing, not counting jewelry, scarves, belts, or hats.  I probably should have counted them too.  

Because I like justification I counted how many things were given to me, bought at a thrift store, or bought new.  

18= things given to me

39= thrift store finds

44= items bought new

If you are any good at math you will realize those 3 numbers add up to 101.  That's not 168.  It's because I only counted my "real" clothes.  You know...not underwear, socks, tank tops, or flip flops.  Which means I have 67 things that nobody really sees.

Oh dear.

I wonder what the number was before I purged my closet, blogged about it, was introduced to "7", and started this journey?

I wonder what the number will be when I finish my 7th month.

I'm hoping it's reduced.  And not just so I can tell you that "7" was effective in helping me reduce the excess in my house.  I want the heart change.

This is a fast of sorts.  And I can tell you, I am not enjoying this month.  But a fast is supposed to pinch a little, is it not?  How can my heart change if there is never something uncomfortable that brings the yuckiness to light?

This month I have been surprised and appalled by how much my attitude is tied to my perception of how I look.  I thought I didn't really care that much.  But it's become quite clear that without my accessories I don't feel nearly as beautiful.

That was a hard sentence to type.  

If you are like me your thoughts went to 1 Peter 3:3 ~ "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes."

Crap.  

Now, I'm not gonna go all Amish on you.  Don't expect to see me with my hair pulled tight against my head, in a handmade dress, handing out my jewelry to more "worldly" women.  You better believe that on May 1 I will be wearing my biggest pair of hoop earrings along with some of my 168 clothing items that I haven't worn in the past month.

But underneath that I hope you see shining thru "the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight."  ~1 Peter 3:4

Jen Hatmaker's prayer thru all of "7" was this: "God, let there be less of me and my junk and more of You."

Seems like a pretty good prayer to me.