This morning I was thinking about how so many people get all caught up in buying “Easter clothes”. I just don’t understand and with the economy as it is today, I have even more trouble understanding.

Although my own mother did it for years, after a while, she just stopped. That was when Easter became REAL for us. The focus became more about what Easter really means as opposed to what we wear on that day. I am forever grateful for that revelation on my mother’s part.

I think the people who run the retail industry just capitalized on this whole thing. When I looked at the newspaper inserts last Sunday, everything was about clothes for Easter. We need to wear clothes EVERY day, so why such a big push at this particular time?

I truly believe half the people who are running out to the stores to get all this stuff for Sunday don’t even go to church. If they do, it might be the only day they attend. Well, let’s hope it’s different now. When I was a little girl, a lot of people got new Easter clothes so they could wear them that day just to look good and show off. They weren’t going to church. Mona and I were in church!

It’s like Christmas: are people really recognizing the true meaning of Easter? For my family, it’s the most sacred, holiest three days of the year . . . Good Friday to Easter Sunday. We honor those days. We honor God and all His goodness. We are so grateful to God for bringing back His son to be with us, guide, comfort, and keep us. It’s a time for remembrance of what Christ endured for us to have any kind of a life, hopefully one that is victorious.

When I think about all of that, what I have on doesn’t matter at all. So I won’t be wearing something new on Easter Sunday. I will be in church and I will be looking good. Most of all, I’ll be honoring God!

I recently had an appointment for my annual eye exam.  I made the appointment with a new opthamologist because I’m in a new city and it’s to far too travel to the old one.  I arrived about 10 minutes prior to my appointment . . . and I waited . . . and waited . . . and waited.

It got to be almost an hour past my appointment time and I had to be back at home for a delivery really soon.  I approached the desk and very nicely informed the receptionist that I had another appointment and I really had to leave.  I reminded her of my appointment time and that I had been there almost an hour without my name even being called.  I advised that I’d have to either reschedule my appointment or find another physician.  They called me in right away.

My question is, why did it take that for me to receive service?  I feel like just as these doctors have apppointments and patients to see, we have other things to do, also.  I don’t feel like we have to accept this type of service.  One hour is just too long.  We don’t show up an hour late for the appointment, right?

It really isn’t acceptable and we don’t have to accept it.  Now, I can understand an emergency situation (a real one) every now and then, but I was not given any such explanation.  All I got was, “You can come on back.  We’ll take you now.” 

When I first  moved to Raleigh, I had an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon who is very popular there.  On my first visit with him, he told me some things and ended the conversation like this, “If you don’t like what I’m telling you, you can find another doctor because it’s not like I need your business.”  What?!  Okay.  Suffiice it to say, I did find another doctor who was excellent and I feel was truly God-sent only because of the way we met.

Okay.  Now that you’re armed, make a move to stand up for what’s right for your own schedules.  You don’t have to accept everything that is presented to you.  You do have choices and they know this.  They will usually try to do whatever they can to keep you happy with their practice.  If they don’t make any such efforts, perhaps you should start looking for another doctor.

It’s a new day and the start of a new week.  I’ve decided to do some things this week that I’ve put off for a while.  These are things that need to be done, but there is no urgency in doing them.  I’ve decided it’s easier to just go ahead and do it while I can and stop putting things off.

It’s also the first weekday for this web site which just launched Saturday.  It’s such a wonderful place that should prove to be quite a resource for women all over the world.  I am honored to be in company with such an amazing group of women on the Be Inspired team.

Please check back regularly to see what’s happening on Be Inspired!  It is my sincere hope that you’ll be inspired in a mighty big way.

~Fran