Does One Size Fit All?

The tag attached to the cute, colorful shirt proudly proclaimed One size fits all. 

Hmmm…

Those four words always end up creating panic when I attempt to pull the piece of clothing over my head.

Because, really. Does one size actually fit all? No. I’m here to testify. It does not.

Shirts that supposedly fit everybody don’t work for me. They frequently hang funny off my shoulders. Too tight in some places; voluminous in others. Too long for my short legs or not enough coverage on the backside. (You know what I mean, right?) 

I was looking for those cautionary, tiny blips on my radar screen as I intently scurried through the clothing store earlier this week. Blips that promise one size fits all. Or that THIS is the cool outfit that every cool woman must have to be cool. 

Shopping is what I call a high-stress situation. It is very seldom enjoyable. And when the flattering store lighting and dressing room mirror shows a very different reflection than I know my bedroom’s ceiling light and warped lean-against-the-wall mirror will provide, overwhelm slides in with the try-on pieces on hangers very quickly. (I would probably still be wearing clothes from my high school years if it wasn’t for my sister Julie who tells me where the sales are, what looks good on me, what I should buy, how I should style it, and no, don’t add the baggy sweater.)

One size fits all can, of course, be convenient. And the clothes can be cute.

But it can easily ignore our own personal style. The fun, or tailoring, and design that makes us … us.

This week’s shopping excursion was more enjoyable than usual. (Probably because Julie had told me exactly what to look for, so I didn’t need to “shop.”) The racks of clothing reminded me of the variety, colors, styles available to us – clothes that capture our personality, address what we want to minimize or carefully accentuate, clothes that invite us to show up as we are and give others a glimpse into our own style.

And then this morning I read these words: The Lord has designed [for us] a wonderful life, tailor-made to our exact specifications. Your personality is yours alone. Your calling and gifts are unique; your background is singular; your legacy can be achieved by no one else on earth. There’s a special blueprint for your life, with no other name on the page. **

Wow. I mean, come on! Just think about that for a moment. God does not create one size fits all. He does not ask us to do what everybody else is doing. He does not require us to live out our faith in the same way as our neighbor or, heaven forbid, everyone we follow on social media. He asks us to show up and love and serve in our unique gifting and calling.

God gives us the skills, talents and interests that are just what we need to live a life that is uniquely our own. A life filled with colors and experiences and dreams and, yes, heart aches and disappointments and you’ve-got-to-be-kidding-me moments. A life where we use all of this to love God and to love and serve our neighbor. To fulfill His work in our own special way.

The Apostle Paul encourages us in his second letter to the Ephesians with these words: For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

A masterpiece is an original. Designed and created with extraordinary skill.

That’s you.

You are one of a kind. Tailor made. Distinctive. In a class by yourself. By a God who has placed you in this place, at this time, for His purpose.

Next time I go shopping I’m going to look for that shirt that shouts I’m one of a kind! Put me on and let’s show your style! Yeah. I think I’ll do that. 

You are not a replica of a one size fits all hanging on the clothing rack.

You are custom made.

You are a masterpiece.

** Robert J. Morgan’s book Mastering Life Before It’s Too Late continues to be a source of strong, encouraging teaching from God’s Word—guiding me on living a life “synchronized with the sacred.” 

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