Rarely do I enter a clothing store and look at the displays up front. Nope, I'm headed straight to the back where the sale racks are located. This is my go-to mode of operation when shopping - a practice I will likely return to when shopping once again involves getting in the car and going somewhere. I'll have to make a concerted effort to remember to change out of my pajamas before resuming this activity, though. When things open up and you see me out and about looking less than presentable, just point me toward the back of the store and say "bless your heart" a few times. I'll get straightened out eventually.
I come by this thrifty way of life natural. Beatrice (emphasis on the "at") was the queen of stretching a dollar and I learned her ways at an early age. She grew up during The Depression and memories of the times of want and need never strayed too far from her mind. While she wasn't exactly a hoarder, she always saved useful things. When an item of clothing wore out, she would cut the buttons off and keep them in a jar - a jar which I still have. She even removed zippers and kept them in the bottom drawer of her sewing cabinet. Then the fabric went in the scrap box for quilt piecing or, eventually, dust rags. I actually have a quilt square with pieces from one of her dresses from the 40's and some of my baby dresses. She sewed our clothes for the most part, though I do remember a few store-bought dresses along the way. An Easter outfit here and there or a new dress when school started. I can still recall some of those Sears and Roebuck purchased wonders. But the place where she really hit her stride was thrift shopping.
There's a somewhat genteel respect for thrifting these days - there are those who see this as being socially responsible and environmentally conscious. I think there may have been more of a stigma back in the 60's about lining up to wait for the thrift store to open on a Saturday morning. OK, being honest here, it was actually called the "junk store" back then - nothing genteel about it. We would get up real early - Mama, my aunt and me - so we could be at the front of the line. We took old pillow cases for shopping bags and rifled through mountains of, well, junk, looking for treasures - maybe an item of clothing or a piece of jewelry; a toy or book for me; a household item. Then we'd be off to the next store with a quick stop at the gas station for a cold little glass bottle of Tropicana orange juice and a pack of powdered donuts to sustain us. Over time and with the move to North Carolina our Saturday morning junk store ritual gave way to yard sale-ing complete with early rising and powdered donuts. And when Hanes Mall opened in Winston-Salem in the 70's we began the new tradition of getting up early to be first in line at the Belks on the day after Thanksgiving.
I could go on and on about those days, and don't get me started about the Hammer's stores - something you could only understand if you'd been there. Suffice it to say on a given day you could find an designer pocketbook, a fitted sheet, a golf shirt, a sack of dog food and a quart of motor oil in one stop. They were a salvage store - something like the precursor of outlets. And we all know about outlet shopping - it's a world unto itself and I've spent many a day wandering from store to store in Boaz or Myrtle Beach or Allen, TX.
There's just something about bargain hunting that takes me back to those early Saturdays with Mama, holding my pillowcase waiting for the doors to open. I'm thinking about this today because I spent a few hours organizing my closet yesterday. As I sorted through items of clothing, I realized that this apple didn't fall very far from the Beatrice-tree. I could probably count on my fingers the items I paid full price for - even the dresses I wore to each of the boy's weddings were purchased at a discount. I came across this one pair of black pants - Chico's, if you're into brand names. I bought them as we were planning our crazy-wonderful move to Texas. I had secured a job in the corporate-finance world and I had a construction-world-wardrobe with a few Sunday dresses here and there. I knew I had to up my game to fit in but the budget was really tight. I drafted my faithful shopping buddy and fashion guru (wink, wink) to help sort through what I had and plan a few strategic purchases. I figured I needed a really good pair of black pants that I could wash and wear with different tops to stretch my wardrobe. I prayed about it, too. Seriously... I prayed that I would find a pair of dressy black pants for a reasonable price. And then I headed for the usual bargain spots. No luck. I noticed a new location for a consignment shop which catered mostly to teens and college girls and decided to give it a try, not expecting to find anything appropriate. And there they were, the Chico's pants, new with tags, for $11.00. Retail price was almost $100.00. My size. Perfect fit - this alone is a miracle. Top that off with a brand new pair of black flats for $13.00 and I was, as they say, in business. I may have cried and called my fashion consultant from the car.
Why do I go on and on about a pair of pants? Or about junk stores and yard sales and outlets? Well, it may seem like bargain-hunting but I see it as provision-gathering. About the blessing of being raised by a wise and frugal mother who knew what it was like to be in want but lived a life of generosity. A woman who held her head high at the junk store and went home to wash and iron and clothe her family in plenty. A rich heritage for this wanna-be-her daughter, grown up with the good sense to celebrate the extravagant gift of a pair of ridiculously discounted pants and to know from Whom they came. The same little girl who spent Saturday mornings clutching a pillow case and hoping for a treasure now understanding the real treasures were the lessons learned. We talk about becoming a Proverbs 31 woman... I was raised by one. And count it as one of the greatest signs of God's favor on my life. I pray that each of us may experience the the blessing of many of these incredible women in our lives and that we all come to recognize the joy that comes with thrift-wisdom and the celebration of a well-placed-heaven-wink - whether we shop in the back of the store or in the front. Selah.
A Modern Proverbs 31 Woman - Jeremias translation
A woman of noble character, what is she like?
She is a jewel, that’s what she is.
Her people do not have to worry she will fall apart at the first sign of trouble.
She uses her skills and wisdom to make sure they have what they need.
She makes things brighter and better by being herself.
She is faith-full and harm-less.
She uses her hands well, be it: sewing, knitting, crocheting and quilting;
or, typing, nursing, teaching and driving.
She gathers the Provider’s wares, whether from her well-watered garden
or from the grocery store, to feed and nurture.
She is industrious – early and late – but does not hesitate to ask for help.
She invests her earnings in wise pursuits – in things that grow in value.
She works hard and is steel-magnolia-strong in body
and in mind even when the body gives out.
She keeps track of her resources and stays up late in the night sometimes
counting and budgeting for the future.
She is frugal and knows the fine art of making-do;
she can spin something up from nothing.
She is generous to a fault, putting the needs of others first;
she takes the last portion from the bowl for herself.
She warms the whole house with clothing and with her love.
She rests and takes care of herself in due time.
She is respected in and out of her home.
She is an entrepreneur: small business, home enterprise
or corporate office may be her marketplace.
She is dignified and does not participate it the indulgence of the day;
her sense of humor remains intact and tactful.
She tells the truth faithfully and teaches others to walk in grace.
She is present in her home – on the lookout for wiles and traps which might ensnare her tribe.
Her people know that she is a blessing and tell her so:
“Of all the women in the world, we are thankful that God chose you to belong to us.
You are all we could have ever hoped for.”
Some are more outward-beautiful, some are more put-together,
but the one who loves the Lord and lives her faith among us is the loveliest of all.
Honor the woman-of-excellence in your life and tell about her good deeds everywhere!
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