Where Is Your Apron?

           I love my church: Thorington Road Baptist. I am a happy member of its congregation. They even let me participate in any activity in which I care to join. I have a special sister-friend there that tells me activities in which I need or have to join as well. That’s great because she is a ministry stretcher. When I think I’m too busy she tells me I’m not. So I do it.

            Well, one activity that is stretching me now is participating in a women’s event at church. Just let me say that my church doesn’t do anything half-way. If it is called an “event” it is an event! I am part of the decoration team for our women’s event titled, Once Upon an Apron. So now, aprons (which have never taken up much of my mental space) have become a focus.

            Somewhere, somehow it dredged up a memory – Susanna Wesley’s apron. I haven’t thought of that famous 1600's clothing item in a while.

            Who was Susanna Wesley? Well, she was just a mom. She was a mom with many children (19 births) to care for, feed, clean, clothe, etc… Oh, and she took care of the finances of the household because of her frequently absent husband. Oh, she home schooled all of her kids. Oh, she led a prayer/ Bible study meeting at her house with over 200 attendees each week. Oh, and she wrote and was published. Oh, and she studied her Bible and prayed each day.

            Once a pastor asked, “If you could meet anyone from the past or present who would you like to meet?” I answered, “Susanna Wesley,” and he was slightly confused that out of all the famous or infamous people I could pick I would choose her. She was just a mom. But what a mom.

            Now you’re thinking, “What does all of this have to do with an apron?” When Susanna Wesley wanted to get alone with God, away from all the hub-bub of a very busy household she would throw her apron over her head. It was a signal to all of the children that she was talking to God and to leave her alone for a moment. She took a few minutes here and there to shut out everything in order to have a daily relationship with her Lord.

            I’m really embarrassed to say that I have sometimes thought I was too busy for a daily quiet time. I don’t really know too busy compared to Susanna. I have been reminded to find an “apron time” each day.

            In the Bible, James chapter 4 talks about what to do with your day:

Do Daily

1.     Pray with Godly motives vs. 3

2.     Separate yourself from what the world says is important or fun vs. 4

3.     Let the Word of God speak to you vs. 5

4.     Be humble vs. 6

5.     Submit to whatever God want of you vs. 7

6.     Draw near to God vs. 8

     Wow, if we could just make these our daily priorities, we would be apron covered

with the Holy Spirit all day. Remembering Susanna’s apron made me determined to find my “apron place” with God. So for the moment I’m not thinking about the apron decorations for the event. I’m finding my apron, the place where God and I can have some time together each day.

Where is your apron?