Jewelry

Jewelry was not allowed in the Amish churches because of the verse in 1 Peter 3:3 where it says "Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel."  Girls had their hair braided, often until graduating from school, everyone wore clothes, but  wearing jewelry was forbidden.

Somehow though, that rule never applied to watches, and since we all liked pretty things it was the one area where we didn't look for something plain and simple.

My 16th birthday always stands out in my memory, not as being old enough to be a part of the youth group, but at the celebration my parents had for me and the day I received my good watch.

Last week I happened upon it while looking for something else. It's still just as pretty as it was back then.

I still remember pinning it securely inside my Sunday dress pocket. I hardly ever used it to see what time it was, but just knowing it was there used to make me feel a little prettier.