Dress Fancy

"I miss the beauty of our condo deck overlooking the lake," I said to Asherel as we walked the dogs, reflecting on our week at Smith Mountain Lake for my son's wedding.
"I miss writing my blog while watching the sun rise over the lake, and foxes trotting by, and being just a few steps away from kayaking in the morning. It was all so beautiful."
"There are different kinds of beauty," she consoled me, "This is beautiful in its own way. Look at that back yard!"
I followed her finger to a nicely landscaped terraced back yard along our usual dog walk route.
"It is," I sighed.

It was a nice back yard....much nicer than ours. And while I could see Asherel's point, and agreed... I still thought longingly of the deck overlooking the beautiful expanse of the shimmering lake with mountains ringing it. Just like God, beauty can be found anywhere, but some places are just more obvious about it.

I brought Asherel's bridesmaid dress and my Mother of the Groom dress to the dry cleaners. Having danced up a storm with no AC in the reception, both our dresses were in dire need of a cleaning. The man at the counter had a really amazing new computer/cash register. He hung the dresses then looked carefully at them. Then he punched some keys on his cash register, and suddenly it spoke to him, its robotic voice convicting:  "Dress. Fancy."
I laughed, "Yes, they are fancy dresses."
"They are beautiful," the store owner said, smiling. The cash register didn't say anything.
"We went to my son's wedding in those," I said, as though he cared, as though by discussing it perhaps I could stretch the beauty of that glorious week in the mountains a little longer. Still the cash register remained silent. It had said all there was to say, and now awaited the next customer.

I wondered as I watched the next client enter the store with an armload of casual shirts what the cash register might pronounce about those......
"Shirts. Common."

"Tell me, Mr. Cash Register, have you ever been to Smith Mountain Lake?" I asked it.
The cash register gleamed, "Lake. Fancy."
I glanced at Asherel and said, "How about my backyard?"
"Trees. Birds. Squirrels. Common."
I nodded knowingly at the Cash Register. But it wasn't done with its analysis:
"Home. Memories. Neighbors. Friends. Bamboo garden. Rocks with verses painted by little girl. Agility course. Happy dogs running. Family growing up. Faith. Prayer. Love. "
"I thought you said 'common'! Are you changing your mind? Since when are machines fickle?"
"Contentment,"  it said, and then was silent.
The Dry Cleaner owner acted as though he had not heard a word.


Philippians 4:11-13
I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.