The Ledger

By Jennifer Greene-Sullivan

Last week, our family took a much-needed vacation to Savannah.

Due to some unexpected changes, we ended up staying at an RV resort instead of our original destination. Honestly, we were simply grateful to be together and enjoy the week.

Chris, Liam, and I arrived first. We set up the camper and changed clothes.

Since we planned to spend the afternoon at the water park, I slipped into my swim shirt and biker shorts. It was nearly 100 degrees outside, so it seemed perfectly reasonable.

As I stood up to leave, Chris stopped me. He looked at me for a moment and asked, “Would you wear that to church?”

I laughed because the question seemed completely out of place.

“We’re at an RV resort with a water park,” I replied.

He asked again.

“Would you wear that to church?”

“No,” I answered.

Then he smiled and said, “Would you please change? We need to stop at the grocery store first, and I believe you should wear in public what reflects who you are as my wife and as a mother.”

I’ll be honest. Everything in me wanted to defend my position because I had plenty of reasons why my outfit seemed appropriate.

Instead, I quietly pulled a pair of yoga pants over my shorts and climbed into the truck.

As we drove toward the grocery store, I prayed. “Lord, why is this conversation so important?”

Almost immediately, the Lord impressed something on my heart.

“You are My Bride, and I am your Bridegroom. Obedience to Me is love. As you learn to love and honor your earthly husband, you are learning what obedience to Me looks like.”

My mind immediately went to the passages where Paul instructs wives to respect and submit to their husbands (Ephesians 5:22–24, 33; Colossians 3:18).

Then Jesus’ words came to mind: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15, ESV).

By the time we returned to the camper, I removed the yoga pants before heading to the water park. They had served their purpose.  Ultimately, the lesson had never been about the clothes I wore.

Since that day, I have thought often about Chris’s question: “Would you wear that to church?”

As I reflected on our conversation, I realized the Lord had been teaching me something much deeper.

I don’t represent Him only inside the walls of a sanctuary. I represent Him wherever I go. 

Whether I am at church, the grocery store, work, or home, I bear His name.

Every conversation, every response, and every ordinary moment gives me another opportunity to reflect Jesus, the One who saved me. 

I am still learning. I am learning that obedience is not merely about following rules because obedience is one of the ways I express my love for Christ.

Thankfully, the Lord is patient with His children. He continues to teach me through ordinary moments on ordinary days. I am grateful that, by His grace, torn wings still fly.