Covering Testimony: Amanda Gardiner
| Name: Amanda Gardiner | Age: 25 | Location: Newfoundland, Canada | Started Covering: March 2009 |
1) Introduce yourself to our readers.
My name is Amanda and I am a wife and mother of 3 beautiful children (all aged 4 and under). I love singing, baking, reading and spending time with my little ones.
2) Where do you attend church? Tell us a little bit about it.
I attend a church in the city of St. Johns. It is non-denominational but has strong Brethren leanings. It is a mix of older and younger congregants but fairly small (less than 100 people).
3) What led you to start covering?
My story of covering is probably different from many others. I was not convinced by scripture to cover. Sure, I believed the scripture said it, but my main reason to start covering was actually pride and works righteousness. Very quickly after my conversion i looked around me to the people i thought were the most “holy” and tried to imitate them. For me this meant throwing all my pants in the trash, stopping wearing make-up, covering every moment of the day (even praying alone in bed), not wearing any jewellery (except my wedding ring), and constantly scrutinizing everybody that didn’t look like me! About a year later my husband came to me and showed me that the scriptures stated that the covering was a symbol for the gathered body of Christ. I swallowed my pride and stopped covering all the time and began to only cover for church gatherings. I will confess that at first this seemed “wrong”. I had trained my conscience in a way that was not true and now had to untrain it. It didn’t take long however and this faded. Over the last few years I have watched legalism melt away into joy in Christ. I now joyfully wear pants that are both modest and feminine and enjoy the freedom that comes from careful and thoughtful make-up and jewellery In the same way I now enjoy my glory (my hair) being styled modestly throughout the week and also delight in covering for church gatherings for the benefit of the angels, and the glory of Christ Jesus.
4) What was that first Sunday like when you showed up in a covering?
Truthfully, I’m not sure I remember the first Sunday but I DO remember the first DAY I covered and it was not fun. I was puffed with pride AND nervous at the same time…..not a good mix! I remember that after explaining what I was doing, I was asked “……are you serious?!?!?!” There was awkwardness in the air the whole night. Even though you may have a difficult first couple days, that fades. People get used to it and many are even curious in a good way and want to know more about it. What a glorious witness!
5) What counsel can you give to women that do not cover out of fear?
6) What kind of covering(s) do you use? Where did you get them?
I wear a snood style covering (this is my preference) and my daughters wear cheap cotton ones that are attached to elastic headbands. I get my higher quality ones at garlandsofgrace.com and my daughters style can be found anywhere (like a Wal-Mart or Target).
