Dining at Cracker Barrel, Donna and I noticed an elderly man. Simultaneously, we said, “Bless his heart.” We whispered about him having to eat alone. At a second glance, I noticed he did not have his teeth in. 

Donna and I often joke about how we promise to make sure that the other does this and that or does not do this or that when we reach that certain age. Please note that I mean no disrespect to anyone who has dentures; we all have things we must deal with. (I especially mean no disrespect to Aunt Anna. She has entertained the little ones over the years by flipping hers in and out with just the push of her tongue!) 

It was no surprise to Donna that I mouthed, “Never let me leave the house, forgetting my teeth.” Of course, she agreed and added some other words that I could not hear. So, she suggested I need to buy a hearing aid and add it to the list of things I should never leave home without. I shook my head as I realized my list was getting longer; I made a mental note to add my glasses too. 

When the waitress brought his food, Donna grew concerned about him getting sore gums noticing he had ordered crispy tater tots. 

Our Mom’s List

Our conversation then wandered into the list of items our mothers made sure we were never without when in our cars. 

• Always have a blanket in case you are stranded on the side of the road on a frigid night
• Make sure to have a flashlight in case you need to walk at night because your car breaks down
• Have a pair of scissors–though I am not sure why…maybe in case you meet a bear while you are walking with your blanket and flashlight! (But, honestly, those scissors have come in very handy over the years!)

My List

Among Mom’s advised car list, I have added a few “musts” for my purse as I have aged.

• Yes, like the American Express commercial said, “Never leave home without it”: your credit card (It comes in handy during emergencies or if you see a really, cute little dress.)
• Your phone cord and charger (I have learned a dead phone and worried children can be a problem.)
• A healthy snack & a bottle of water (No one wants to hear a growling stomach in church.)
• Safety pins (Those buttons can pop off at the most inconvenient times.)
• Band-Aids (Nobody wants blood on their clothes.)
• Hand sanitizer (Covid-19…Need I say more.)
• Tissues (I’m snot kidding)
• Lip Gloss (A shiny smile says so much.)
• Breath mints or gum (You remember the Big Red commercial: “say goodbye a little longer.”)
• Small tube of lotion (Who wants rough hands?)
• Power compact (Will this oily skin ever end?)

In my young adult life, I would have included an extra tampon or pad on the list, but at my age I will have to say a clean pair of panties. Mom might have said those are needed in case of a car wreck, but I am much more concerned about getting tickled with a friend and need a pair to change into. 

 We can powder our noses, gloss our lips, stick on the Band-Aid, clean and smooth our skin, pin a hole, quench our temporary thirst, and disguise our breath, but to be prepared in life, we need more than supplies from our purse.  

The Armor of God

All kidding aside, “Mama said there would be days like this”; ones filled with the devil’s schemes. The Bible gives us a list of things never to leave home without. We must guard ourselves with… (Ephesians 6:10-18)

• Belt of truth 
• Breastplate of righteousness
• Fit your feet with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace
• Shield of faith
• Helmet of salvation
• Sword of the Spirit

The armor of God is the thing to truly never leave the house without! When we make time to read God’s word, pray, and listen, we armor ourselves with a relationship with the Lord, the most important thing to never forget!