Put on Love

I was hired to work at J.C. Penney in Dewitt, NY during the busy 1967 Christmas shopping season. It was my first job in retail and the thoughtful manager made me clerk (in the quiet out of the way) 2nd floor ‘Ready to Wear’ department.

Ready to wear implies the ease of finding appropriate items; pleasing to the eye and labeled by size for easy selection. Think of the department as a giant sized walk-in-closet. The shopper walks in; picks out a favorite outfit that’s ready for them to wear.

I stood watch and ready to serve.

Shoppers ascended the steps to browse through racks of popular fashions and shelved accessories. Many bought presents and had them wrapped in the store’s gift-wrapping department before going back down stairs. I greeted a prospective customer…

‘May I help you?’

‘Yes, I’m looking for a robe.’

God robes His children in righteousness.

Are we ready to serve; ready to wear His robe and the name of Christian?

Dress appropriately; put on love!

“So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so must you do also. In addition to all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity (Colossians 3:12-14 NASB).”