Thrifted...

I'm Dutch by name and by marriage. I love our Dutch heritage for its hard working mindset. I love our Dutch culture for its deep faith. But I'm totally in love with being Dutch for getting a great deal!

Shopping thrift stores and spending mornings scouring garage sales are hands down my favorite hobbies. Nothing matches the joy of discovering a treasure. Whether it be a trinket to fill in that bare spot on my bookshelf, or that perfect belt, scarf or sweater to complete that hard-to-match skirt, a shopping trophy is reason for celebration.

I know. Thrift stores, garage sales and estate sales are full of other people's castoffs.

Junk. Trash. Discards. Throw outs.



All the more reason to celebrate!

One look around my home gives testament to my hobby. From my vantage point on my couch, I spot books, teapots, picture frames, tins, 7up bottles, pitchers,  cookie jars, and even an old window frame that I've thrifted. Upon opening my closet door, I realize that easily three quarters of my clothing is second hand.



I wouldn't have it any other way. I relish wearing an outfit that cost me a buck or two. It tickles me to display antique ornaments from a bygone era. I find joy in rescuing the cast offs, because to me they have worth beyond compare. I love saving things that were destined for destruction.

In a similar way, God knew I needed saving. He knew I was destined for destruction. That's why I am joy-filled at the thought of his rescue.

I Corinthians 1:26-31 (The Message):

Take a good look, friends, at who you were when you got called into this life. I don’t see many of “the brightest and the best” among you, not many influential, not many from high-society families. Isn’t it obvious that God deliberately chose men and women that the culture overlooks and exploits and abuses, chose these “nobodies” to expose the hollow pretensions of the “somebodies”? That makes it quite clear that none of you can get by with blowing your own horn before God. Everything that we have—right thinking and right living, a clean slate and a fresh start—comes from God by way of Jesus Christ. That’s why we have the saying, “If you’re going to blow a horn, blow a trumpet for God.”

I'm glad Jesus is a thrifter, are you?