Let's Wear Our "Sunday Bonnets" every day!

I wonder how many of us wear our “Sunday Bonnet” all the week? By “Sunday Bonnet” I am speaking figuratively of the demeanour we show amongst the Body of Christ when we worship or meet. You know, our glowing smiles, uplifting words, piety, kindness and exhibition of grace and love so expected of a Christian Lady.

Do we put our “Sunday Bonnet” on just before we leave for Church, wear it proudly whilst we are there and then toss it off as soon as we get home? Replacing it with harsh words, impatience, unkind and uncharitable thoughts- the antithesis of what we were half an hour ago? I have been guilty of this on occasion myself, and am slowly gaining the victory. I am sure there will be a lot of us who if we are honest, are nodding our heads in agreement. Thank God for His conviction of sin and forgiveness!

To become Christ-like is an ongoing process. But we must try to reflect His character at home, at work, shopping, wherever our life takes us. We must “walk the walk and not just talk the talk”. If we don our “Sunday Bonnets” for Sunday only, and then just for a select few, how do you think our witness to those closest to us is going to be? Pretty grim, I would think. To try to teach Biblical principles to your young ones is going to be rather difficult if they see hypocrisy in you. And believe me, they might not know what the word means, but they will know instinctively what it is! “Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? wither a vine, figs? So can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.” James 3:10-11

We must lead our children by example. But we do not lead our husbands- they must be shown respect and love, even if they are not deserving of it in our opinion. Ephesians 5:33 “Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself and the see that she reverence her husband.”

If we have unsaved husbands, we cannot afford to keep our “Sunday Bonnets” only for Sunday. They will be observing our behaviour- for to name the name of Christ is to become a witness- good or bad! 1 Peter 3:1-2 “Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation (behaviour) of the wives; while they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.”

How tragic that we may turn our men and children away from coming to Christ by them seeing the ease with which we don and discard our “Sunday Bonnet!” I believe that of all places, home is where we should wear our “Sunday Bonnet” at all times. For our husband’s sake, for our children’s sake and for our Lord’s sake.

© Glenys Robyn Hicks