Fiesta Ware!

Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD “— and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Psalm 32:5 (NIV)

Tonight was the Monster Truck show also known as “mom has the house to herself night.” While the boys were out having their fun, I relished the quiet of an empty house. I shrunk some wool sweaters I picked up at Goodwill and sewed a tablecloth for our dining table. I tried to make a cell phone case for my niece for her birthday, but I don’t like the way it turned out so will start over tomorrow. The highlight of the evening was putting away my brand new Fiesta Ware dishes. I have wanted some for years. We’ve been using the same dishes that we got when we moved in this house twenty five years ago. I got them free from the grocery store. They held up well, but are chipped and scarred. Now, that my children are grown and I don’t have to worry about someone dropping things, I thought it was time to invest in new dishes. I saved the money I got for Christmas and waited until they went on sale. This week, they were buy one place setting get one free. Not quite as inexpensive as the grocery store ones, but these are so much prettier! Even though I got them on sale and paid cash for them, I kept the boxes in my car until my husband wasn’t home so he wouldn’t see me bring them in the house. Not because I wanted to surprise him, but because I felt the need to sneak them in. It goes back to my childhood. I clearly remember coming home for shopping trips and hearing my mom say, “Take your things straight to your room and put them away. Let’s wait a few days to show Daddy.” I always felt a tad guilty about getting something new. It continues as an adult. So, I brought my purchases into the house, washed them, boxed up our old dishes and put the new ones away. It’s not that I did anything wrong, but I still feel a little guilty about buying them. When there are so many problems in the world, is it right to have a cupboard full of brightly colored dishes? There are a couple of things I have been thinking about. First, why is it so hard for us, particularly us women, to buy something for ourselves, not because we need it, but because we want it? Also, it made me think about times when I do sin and I think I can hide it from God. He knows and sees all so there’s no sense in sneaking around feeling guilty. It is easier if I just confess and ask forgiveness right away. Again, I didn’t sin by buying the dishes even though it feels a little like I did. Maybe, it’s because I was so secretive about getting them into the house. The effort was probably a waste of time. My husband will notice them right away. I’ve got a rainbow in my cupboard now!