Aunt Janice and Her Designer Clothes:)

Good morning, Girls!

 I hope you are all having as "lovely" a time as I am having in this "light" study as Diane so dryly put it on Facebook:)  This first week has me reeling.  As I have lived out the hours in my days, there have been many times I have caught myself in an attitude of pride I had no idea was there.

While doing this study, I was reminded of a journal entry of my husband's Aunt Janice.  Aunt Janice died some years back and her journal was found on her computer.  Her husband read her entries and had them printed up for the family, and I am so glad he did.  Let me introduce you to Aunt Janice...Janice was a brilliant lawyer hired by the Los Angeles City Council back in the 90s.  She was a beautiful woman...inside and out.  Because of her high profile job, she had an incredible wardrobe filled with designer clothing.  However, the most important thing you need to know about Aunt Janice is that she LOVED Jesus and tried to follow Him in all ways.  Janice loyally attended a church in Los Angeles where she taught Sunday School and was extremely active wherever and whenever there was a need.  In her journal she tells of time when a woman in her church lost her job and was virtually penniless.  Janice found out that this woman was in need of professional clothing for job interviews.  She was pretty sure they were the same size, so with great excitement, she went through her closet choosing some beautiful outfits.  On Sunday, Janice had a large box of designer clothes to give to this woman and she could hardly wait.  She KNEW it would bless her...she just knew it!!  Janice found the gal after church and presented her with the clothes..then, she watched in disbelief as the woman, not only went through the box piece by piece, criticizing each article, but handed back the box to Janice with the statement:  "These just aren't my style" and then proceeded to turn and walk away!

In her journal, Janice explains the humiliation she felt because she had already told others in the church that she would be bringing some clothes for this woman, so" they would know this need was taken care of." Eventually, Janice had to face the truth...She had been filled with pride giving her clothes to this "needy" person.  She goes on to write that had she been giving the clothes with the right attitude..."as unto the Lord" she wouldn't have been offended...surprised, maybe, but not humiliated.  She realized during this experience that she gave those clothes for selfish reasons.  She like to be thought of as:  "Janice is always there when there is a need"...."We can always count on her"...and..."Look how generous she is!!!"  In the end, Janice was more humbled by the exposure of her own selfish heart before God, then the public rejection of her gift of designer clothes.  That truth changed her and in her journal you hear her confession and her declaration to change now that she saw "the real me." 

From that point on, Janice gave anonymously because she knew her heart's propensity toward self- promotion.  Janice died young...in her fifties of pneumonia, but her legacy of honesty, humility and love for the Lord lives on in her journal.  I wanted to share her story with you. 


I hope everyone has received their books by now.  We will spend another week on "Humility" and then move on next Monday to "Confidence." 

Love to you....

Cherri