My Mother and the Peach Shirt

    When I tell you that there are some stories that you just can’t imagine, my mother and the peach shirt come to mind. On Election Day I decided to shop for my mother because the weather was changing, and she needed some new and warmer tops. On my shopping expedition, I found a lovely peach pullover blouse that zipped in the front. When I got home and my mother tried this blouse on, she exclaimed that it was a perfect fit and that the color was wonderful! Score! I got one out of ten articles of clothing right. The next day she wore the peach blouse and a pair of jeans to her senior activities. She felt good in this blouse because as she boarded the shuttle she looked back to let me know that she looked good, felt good, and knew it! You know there is the adage that “if mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.” My mother was happy and so I was happy, but I never fathomed that the peach shirt would cause me so much distress later.

    The following morning as I heard my mother moving about the house getting ready for the shuttle, I decided to check on her. As I walked into the living room, the first thing I noticed was that she was wearing the peach shirt again. I said, “Mother, you cannot wear that shirt again today.” She asked, “Why not?” I explained to her that the shirt had been worn the day before and she needed to wear a different color today. Please keep in mind that the conversation happened at 5:30 a.m. My mother was appalled that I would not let her wear this peach shirt again. After her few choice words, I gently told her that I did not want people talking about her and how her daughter allowed her to wear the same clothes every day. Something about that statement resonated with her because she responded, “You know, you have a point because people will talk behind your back and never say things to your face. I think I should change the shirt.” Score! There was nothing that a new lime green shirt couldn’t cure! My mother successfully boarded the shuttle and waves. She was feeling pretty good!

    Sometimes we think the battle has been won because we presented the case and the evidence. We go so far as to state possible consequences for not listening. Have you ever been in a situation where someone has told you something for your own good and yet you choose to do what you want to do? Hmmm… Here we go again! Week two! My mother wore the peach shirt on Monday, and it was a great way to start the week. Around 10:30 Monday night, she was still wearing the peach shirt. I chalked it up to the fact that she was not ready to get dressed for bed. Little did I know that I was in for week 2, round 2 of the battle of the peach shirt! Tuesday morning I said, “Mother, you cannot wear that shirt today because you wore it yesterday!” Fighting words! She said, “I don’t see why not. It is not dirty, and it doesn’t smell. I don’t mess up clothes, and you seem to think that I have a big wardrobe! I know how to dress!” I sat down on the loveseat and let her have her moment. After my mother’s expletives and my silent giggles, I asked, “Are you finished?” She said, “Yes.” I gave her a nice blue shirt to wear and began my day. This round occurred at 6:00 a.m. I slowly came to the conclusion that the peach shirt was going to be a weekly issue until I did something about it. There was the option of hiding the shirt or conveniently losing it or buying some more peach shirts. Only time will tell.

    While reflecting on the year, the job, and life, I found myself a bit amused at my mother’s rantings over the peach shirt, but something struck me about our exchanges. In our flesh, we tend to want to ignore warnings and wise counsel about situations because we don’t like what we hear, we think we know better, or we are determined to do what we want to do. In the case of my mother and the peach shirt, a sound argument on why this shirt should not be worn was given and the possibilities or what might happen or be said was presented. Yet, my mother was adamant that she knew best, and she was going to do it the way she wanted to do it. Does this start to sound familiar? When the Lord speaks to us and gives us warnings about certain behaviors and sins, do we immediately turn away from the sin and repent? Perhaps we have justified the sin, or we have repeated the sin because it was not that big of a sin, or we have had too much fun in the sin, or we are determined to do life our way! The peach shirt was just a reminder to listen in the following verses:

Listen to advice and accept instruction that you may gain wisdom in the future.

–(Proverbs 19:20)

If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame. —(Proverbs 18:13)

What is the peach shirt in your life?

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