My SIL went into this store to find her the perfect dress. She thought it would be fun for me to try on some clothes too. You know, just to give us something fun to do to kill some time. It didn't take her long to find a dress and we weren't ready to head home just yet:) So I look through the clothing racks and pick out a few things to try on. I found a couple of pretty skirts and some nice blouses to go with them. No big deal, right? Until the "sales lady" go involved. She decided to come over and be "helpful" to us. So she comes over and takes one look at me and starts giving her opinion. I am still in my own clothing at this point. Blue baggy sweater that I paid $0.25 for at the Habitat Home Store, baggy jeans that are 3 sizes too big (I lost alot of weight this summer!), and 4 year old tennis shoes that were a gift 4 years ago. Now I know that I don't look like a super model in these clothes, but it's the best I've got and it keeps me warm so I consider myself blessed to just have clothing to wear. Some people aren't so fortunate. Well, this sales lady starts picking apart my "ensemble". You know, giving me her opinion on my fashion sense. She tells me that I dress dumpy (her EXACT WORDS!!!)and that what I am wearing might as well be a cardboard box because it certainly makes me look like I am shaped like a box. This is when I must stop the retelling of this story and say that I have feelings and they were really hurt by what this woman said to me! My feelings are still hurt. I do the very best I can with what we have and I am just lucky to have what I have. I am sorry that my best is not good enough for some people, but I am not in this world to impress people with material things. But I am human and I am sensitive and her opinion does still sting. It made me wonder if everyone looks at me and only sees what she saw. A dumpy, box-shaped, housewife that has no fashion sense. I went home and cried last night.
My moral to this story? It is simple. Don't judge a book by it's cover. You never know who a person is just by looking on the surface. To that sales person, I am a dumpy, box shaped woman with bad taste. But I am so much more than that. In my opinion anyway. I am a wife that is struggling and trying my best and sometimes feeling like I'm coming up short. I am a mother that loves her children and I try to make sure that they have what they NEED before I buy what I WANT. I am a PERSON that has feelings and a story that you can't judge just by looking on the surface. So there you are, my lesson. Don't judge a book by it's cover because the story inside that cover just might not be what you expect.
To that sales lady at the store last night: Walk a mile in my 4 year old tennis shoes before you try to "fix" me.
I can't believe that saleswoman. Shame on her.
ReplyDeleteYou are such a great mom. It's hard to put ourselves last sometimes, but great is the mother that can do that.
I'm sad that you can't find a church that will let you wear jeans. I wear mine to ours every week. People shouldn't be so concerned with how one dresses. God doesn't. He doesn't care about our clothes...he cares about our hearts and lives.
I'm so sorry this woman was so insensitive to you.
That lady needs a lesson in how to treat people. I can't believe she had the gall to talk to you like that. The Golden Rule applies everywhere, even to salespeople.
ReplyDeleteI hope you can be comfortable wearing jeans to church. I wear mine to church sometimes. I almost always wear pants to church. Warmer that way in the winter. Besides I hate wearing panty hose. And I am not comfortable in a dress unless I have on panty hose.
I am sad that your outing with your SIL turned out to be hurtful for you instead of fun. Hope the next opportunity will be more fun for you.
~Linnea
A-men sista! Preach on. LOL
ReplyDeleteAt my church we wear jeans. Jesus was a poor man. He didn't even have a place to call his "own" He doesn't care what you wear, he cares about what's in your heart. So you can just say to that "lady"..."pooh on you." LOL
By the way.... Goodwill ROCKS!! I love to go to second hand stores.... I just have to find the time now:)
First of all...the saleslady needs to learn some M-A-N-N-E-R-S! What nerve she had!
ReplyDeleteSecondly, I agree that you can not judge a book by its cover!
Oh...and where we go to church...some people wear jeans, skirts, pants, and casual wear as well. Heck...this morning I wore pants and a turtleneck. Our church's policy is..."Come as YOU are." What matters most is your relationship with HIM...not with how/what you wear!
Just my two cents about goodwill...it ROCKS and you can find some really good finds as well!
Your a beautiful child of God!
~Elyse
Man, I wish you lived closer to me, lots and I do mean LOTS of people wear jeans to church including me. The fellowship of the believers is so important to our walk with God, not essential, your salvation is essential. But important nonetheless. However if you have not been able to find a church that accepts you as you are you probably don't need their fellowship anyway because you'd probably run into a lot more "judging Judys".
ReplyDeleteMy heart goes out to you, but I've been there too. As a kid a lot of other kids were mean to me because I didn't wear just the right clothes. It's so pathetic. Just remember that she's accountable to God just as you are. It's your relationship with God that matters not what anyone else thinks.
Love Ya!
Wow. What a rude lady! I can't believe she said that!!! I am so sorry, Kaleena. I would have also gone home and cried if someone had been so rude to me. You don't need to listen to people like that though. You are precious and beautiful.
ReplyDeleteP.S. I was MIA this weekend cuz I was out of town visiting my boyfriends family. I missed you and some of my other bloggy friends (but mostly you and Mindi :) )
I hope you had a good weekend *hugs*
Hi Kaleena...I'm glad you blogged today. I know that it felt good to 'get it off your shoulders'....and that's what your blog is for.
ReplyDelete(1) I wear jeans to church on Sunday night and on Wednesday night....and I am the musician (pianist)....and we have a rather large church. You are welcome to come to our church any time...wearing anyting (except a bathing suit!!! :)) might distract from the sermon.)
(2) You should have pulled the "Pretty Woman" thing on the rude lady. If I lived closer, it would have happened. We would have had you back in there with boxes and boxese and boxes and laden with clothes on top of clothes...just to show her that what she perceived isn't what matters. It's the heart of the woman, and it doesn't sound at all like she even tried to get to know you.
(3) Go girl for getting a sweater for $0.25.
That's a great deal. I'll let you in on a little secret. I found TWO wonderful wooden antique chairs at a thrift store. I paid $1.50 for each ...and simply put a cover on the bottom, and I use them every Christmas and Thansgiving. It's not the price of the goods that make them valuable.
You keep on with that stiff upper lip...and don't let any bah humbug scrooge-type woman get you down this time of the year. You know where that's coming from, doncha? Yep. Satan just hates this time of the year. He's have a party any time that he can let something upset someone or a disburbance is caused...
Don't let your clothing keep you from the house of worship. Best I remember, in Jesus' times, they went with sandals...and their feet needed washing. You find a local church that you feel comfortable in....and enjoy the fellowship of fellow believers. Then, maybe you can go back and invite the saleslady at the store to come. I'm not being spiteful. It sounds like she needs to hear from God.
Take care of you, Kaleena.
Much love,
Jackie
I think you should complain to the store manager about her. How mean of her! Sorry, I haven't been by for a while. I've been spending less time on the computer!
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome at our church anytime. I wear my tennis shoes everywhere....God doesn't care what we wear. It is what is in our hearts that counts!
ReplyDeleteLove ya.