Necessary Alterations

Just recently Anton got a gorgeous taupe-colored suit for a friend's wedding he is a groomsman in this month. He got measured at the tux shop for his suit coat and pants. When the suit arrived at the house it fix pretty well on top. But when he put on the pants, he was surprised to find out they hadn't been hemmed at all. They were about 7 inches too long. He needed to take the suit back to the tux place to get it altered ... $25 dollars later. But that fee is nothing compared to what brides pay for alterations. Ayla will be paying approximately $300 to have her gown hemmed and tucked. It's the nature of the beast when getting fitted for fancy wear. But when it's completed, the finished product fits like it was made just for you ... and it has been.

You need to go for alterations two to three months prior to the wedding because gowns typically need a lot of changes, and often times you will go back at least once more for the final fitting. Hopefully your body shape at that point is right where you want it. Lose 10 pounds before the wedding and you've lost a dress size. So keep that in mind before you schedule that first fitting.

Be sure you bring the shoes you plan to wear. That's for both the fellows when they check their pant leg length and for the girls for their gowns. Ladies, you may also want to be wearing exactly what you plan on wearing under your dress, so that the alterations made fit the shape your body will have that day. And bring a friend with you who can see the alterations as they happening to give you another perspective. For example, one of the things I loved about my wedding gown was how the front dropped just below my waist. When the folks at Patti's Bridal did the alterations, that front hit me right at the waist. No one caught it and thus the finished product was not exactly what I wanted. When you see those pins in, know that is how it will look when it's completed.

Know, too, in alterations this is the place to ask about any creative changes you would like to make to the dress. Want more sparkle? Cap sleeves? A small bolero? A bustle? These are thing to ask about at your fitting. Which speaking of the bustle, if your dress already has one, ask how to bustle the dress correctly.

Like wedding gowns and tuxes, we as Christians need alterations. Matter of fact, we are continually in an altered state. The dictionary describes an alteration as a change, modification or adjustment. The Lord is tweaking us, sometimes slowly bit-by-bit and sometimes swiftly through an unusually difficult challenge. Pay attention to this process. If you find yourself repeating specific trials in your life, it may be that God is showing you that you have not made the change He was attempting to adjust. 1 Corinthians 5:17 says, "If anyone is in Christ he is a new creation; the old has gone. The new has come."  Ezekiel 36:26 says, "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh." And Psalm 51:10 says, "Create in me a clean heart, O Lord, and put a new and right spirit within me." Paul tells us in Romans 12:2 that God is transforming us by renewing our minds. Know that whether or not you ask God to change you for the better, He is doing it anyways. And it's not always easy. When it comes to alterations, seams are ripped open and bits of fabric are cut away. From a human standpoint, these alterations can be painful. But know that the Great Tailor is creating a beautiful work ... that when completed will be perfect.

Discussion: When do you plan on getting measured or having alterations? Have you ever had anything altered before? What did you notice about the garment before and after? Tell about some alterations God has made in your life.

Prayer: Thank you, Father, for the changes you make in us. Help us to be willing to make the changes you are attempting in us. Father, we want to be new creations with new and right spirits. Thank you for taking the time to make us more like Jesus. It's in His name we pray, Amen.