Yes, I actually smell my clothes...
Only when they are brand new, that is. I inhale deeply as though breathing in the layers of fabric. You know the smell, right? I can't describe it, it's just... "new-ness." And then there's also the part about removing the price tags. I get overjoyed at the simple task of tearing off price tags. The ritualistic act shows that the item is now mine, and no longer the store's. Oh blue jeans, the smell of new blue jeans. How I love that smell!
* * *
The Proposal:
Today, I propose a different kind of "hand-me-downs" to you. The kind we ought to wear. The necessary kind.
* Do you remember how Elisha (the apprentice) desperately asked Elijah (his master) for a double portion of what he had? Elisha knew that he needed it. His master was obviously loaded with divine weaponry. Elijah had a significant relationship with God, and Elisha wanted to be doubly so. It wasn't offensive for him to get some "hand-me-downs." A double portion of hand-me-downs in this case!
Hand It Down To Me:
* Do you know what? We exist for each other. Sometimes it is our pride that prevents us from getting those hand-me-downs. When we see people who are doing what we badly want to do, we don't want to ask them how they did it. Why? Because we don't want to seem desperate. But the truth is, we all need it. Most times we need someone to look up to. Most times, we need someone to teach us. To guide us in the right path. We need the Holy Spirit.
"And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, "Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?" Elisha said, "Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me." 2 Kings 2:9
Have you ever had to beg for "hand-me-downs?" Or did you hate them while growing up? Do you know that this walk of life literally involves passing down of techniques and life lessons? Hand-me-downs???
Photo by Redbubble
25 comments:
Never really thought of it like that(hand me downs)..life being all about passing down techniques and lessons..makes perfect sense now!
Hmm this is really interesting.. Most times while growing up I had loads of good hand me downs,lol.. Every missing thing was mine..
That aside,I've had to not ask for something even though I know I need it or want it.. cause of pride or that I found it embarassing.. Thanks for the eye opener..
Please visit http://helpnigeria.blogspot.com
Thank you so very much
www.askchacha4free.blogspot.com
@Blogoratti...never really thought of it like that either, until last night.
@2Cute4u...so u were one of those people, LOL.
yeah, got me thinking....Life's truly a lot about learning from other people.
I guess sometimes pride gets in the way of asking others for how they succeeded at something we desire to succeed in as well - in other word, their hand-me-downs.
@Enkay, yes pride does. Especially when people do a lot of things in common...like write...for example in the blogosphere. :)
awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww I likey! :) XxXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXxx
'm the third of four daughters so hand me downs was the norm,
did i like it? honestly i can't remember it not being the norm so i never had an issue with it but the problem that it presented was i became like your sister i hate shopping and have three sisters so their closets are my malls.
in regards to spiritual hand me downs
i think i'm the person who has a very had time passing it on to the next generation. in some areas of my life i'm okay but being a mentor to another is frustrating cuz very few people want to think like mii and so .....
but yeah
you are right
have a blessed weekend
@ Mimi...*hugs* My darling shweetie-pie...lol. How are u and.......urrrr boo?
@ Kafo..."Very few people want to think like me..." Can I beg to differ? Can't wait for you to grab the reins of the horse and PASS your teachings to the next generation jo! Lol. But for real though, I don't know why I just know you have a lot to offer the next generation. Yes, we all think about crazy things and make crazy mistakes, but we have to remember them...so that others don't make the same mistakes. Today I read that scripture in Joshua 4:4-7 where God told those people to carry the stones with them as a memorial, so that when their children asked them what those stones meant in the future, they would tell them the full story.
i like this song by India Arie
@ Jaycee: u r right, i have to admit that watching people go up in flames is hard and sad but at the same time investing in people and watching them still make nonsensical choices is frustrating, maybe not as much but still it is like WHAT IS WRONG WIHT YOU,
but then again you are right, because for every one person that doesn't listen there are others that listen that u never know about
so it is my job to sow the seed and leave the rest up to God
hmmmm
Ah, me too :) It's all about the choices we make ooo...:)
Wow!!! Never saw it like that! Well then I better start looking for some hand me downs! I know a bunch of people that I could ask for a double portion of what's on them. Umm Jaycee do you have some hand me downs?
@ HomieGFunk...I could use some of yours too...let's share. LOL. (For real though, I'm someone that likes to learn from other people). I can sit down and read wisdom snippets all day...if it makes sense, if it is Godly wisdom, if it makes my eyes grow wider...I'm IN!!! :)
Looking for closets to shop in...
Jaycee we could definitely exchange...
This is so beautiful... Love the post....did not expect it to take the turn it took when I was reading it
@Homie :) (apparently lost any more words)
@Harry...that's a good thing. Suspense! He he.
Hand-me downs? we buy them as first grade OKRIKA for 9ja! lol
As for the spiritual hand -me-downs; i beg to REFUSE! Because our PRESENT day pastors have ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to hand-down! They are EMPTY vessels that makes the loudest noise because of MONEY!
Yeah likewise, i am a first born, so i don't know what hand me downs feel like... quite an interesting perspective though because it does take humility to accept hand me downs - be it clothes, word of advice, and even God's answer to a prayer, blessings etc.
@Nitty-gritty...you know what? You've just made a GREAT POINT. The fact that we need to grab some hand-me-downs from people who we think have greater wisdom than we do does not mean we should NOT be selective. A lot of leaders have nothing to pass down to the younger generation (even forget pastors, take the Nigerian democratic system for example...there is failure in leadership all over the place). So I agree with you in "SELECTIVITY."
@Mwajim...very true. In summary, it is also a case of humility. Geez, so humbling!!! Thanks. Hope your day has been awesome so far o...hoping MD is sunny.
Jaycee, you wrote....
" Most times we need someone to look up to. Most times, we need someone to teach us. To guide us in the right path. We need the Holy Spirit."
awwww.... there you go speakin TRUTH again! Ohhh how we need the Holy Spirit to guide - to instruct - to protect - to speak - to close our mouths - to open our hearts - and eyes and ears....to hand-down-to us HIS TRUTH.
I grew up with hand-me-downs. we were a poor preacher's family. Had there not been genuine caring families in my daddy's churches - to clothe and feed us - I may not have grown up believing that God is who He says He is!
I could have grown the other direction - being poor - believing that my daddy's God didn't care about him or me....or our family. But God provided for us through other-people's hand-me-downs!
They were gifts of precious colors and fabric and smelled so sweet to a little girl's senses. They made my spirit soar - because someone cared - and it came with no strings attached - no price tag - no rips or missing buttons.
When mama prayed that God would cover her little girl's backside, because the dresses were getting short - God opened up someone else's heart and hands and provided just what we needed.
These gifted hand-me-downs groomed me to not only receive - but also to give with a joyful heart.
The spiritual hand-me-downs are too numerous to mention. To try would take from here to eternity! They continue to be handed-down day after day after day. I never get tired of them.
The most amazing scriptural hand-me-down that was handed-down to me as a small girl - I handed-down to my own little girl - and she handed-down to hers.... was the story of the little boy that handed-up his small lunch into the hands of Jesus - because Jesus ask him to share.
The rest of the story is how Jesus handed-it-up to His Father - God - who handed-it-back-down to Jesus in multiplied form. Jesus then sent His Disciples out with baskets full of loaves and fishes to feed the 5,000 people who were following Jesus - just to catch a sliver of His wisdom.
One small boy's hand-me-down lunch fed a multitude....
"One of the disciples—it was Andrew, brother to Simon Peter—said, "There's a little boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But that's a drop in the bucket for a crowd like this." John 6:8-9 (The Message)
The moment he chose to hand-it-up....it became a spiritual transformation that spread through the entire hillside ...
his small choice - fed more than he could have ever imagined.
Didn't matter what was in his basket - what mattered was his willing heart to hand-it-up ...that it might be handed-down to those in need.
and the greatest hand-me-down.... from the hand of Jesus!
"For even the Son of Man came not to have service rendered to Him, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many." Mark 10:45
Awwwww, the JOY of hand-me-downs from the hands of Jesus!
Thanks Jaycee, God bless you with a multitude of hand-me-downs!!
Patrina <"))><
His watchman on the wall
@Patrina, I'm speechless to respond to what you've just shared, but I know that these simple honest words of yours will bless a lot of people out there.
Saying "thank you" will not be enough. "I have never seen the righteous beg for bread..." God is our Provider, the Holy Spirit is our Guide, and Jesus has paid the ultimate sacrifice for us...by His death.
yeah
if you see someone who has had good success in what they are doing (no crookedness in what they are doing)
you could always ask them how they accomplished whatever it is they are doing?
in short just be teachable.
Yes, tisha...most times it's our pride that keeps us away from receiving. Thanks.
@everyone...sorry if I lost your comments due to a change of domain :)
I love hand me downs! Mostly from the special people in my life, my sister, cousins, best friends, Mum. That way when they're not around I can wear them and feel some sort of odd connection to them :)
We talked about Elijah and Elisha in Church recently and our pastor said the same thing. Mostly on remaining under the instruction of people with the anointing you seek/want.
So if you want to be a missionary, hang around missionaries. Their anointing is bound to rub off on you! xxx
@Princess...you know the quote: "birds of the same feathers flock together?" This analogy is even deeper than that--->there is definitely something greater to gain than lingering in the presence of people who can add substance (anointing) to our lives. It's bigger than just "flocking together."
Thanks for airing your views :)
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