Mother’s Day Devotional: The Purse-anality Test

Have You Ever Noticed How Obsessed People Are with Personality Tests?

There’s Myers-Briggs, the Enneagram, Strengths Finder, and countless other quizzes. People love discovering a label that helps explain how they think, work, and relate to others.

For me, most personality tests have been stressful. A single question sparks a dozen scenarios and every answer feels situational: “Well… it depends.” I overthink one question into fifteen possible responses, and the result reflects my indecision more than who I really am.

So I made a different kind of quiz — simple, fun, and entirely non-scientific.

Introducing: The Purseanality Test.

Why Purses? (Here’s What I Noticed…)

Years ago I worked in retail selling purses. Watching women choose a bag taught me two clear things:

1. Purses matter. For many women, a purse is both a fashion statement and a daily tool.
2. Every detail counts. Zippered pockets, size, strap length, color — small features reveal priorities and personality.

Not every woman values the same details. One woman’s must-have is another’s unnecessary bulk. That realization led me to a simple idea: a purse often tells a story about the person who carries it.

Use this for a quick icebreaker, a funny Mother’s Day devotional, or an object lesson in church. Think of the women you know — maybe yourself, your mom, grandma, or best friend — and enjoy discovering their Purseanality.

The Purseanality Test: 3 Purse Personalities

Below are three purse personalities. As you read, picture the women in your life who fit each description. Which one feels most familiar?

👜 Type 1: The Chic Commander

The Small Crossbody Purse

The Chic Commander carries a compact, stylish crossbody designed for efficiency. Her bag is intentional: hands-free, organized, and curated so she only carries essentials. She moves through her day with calm confidence and a clear sense of order.

What’s inside her bag?

• Lipstick
• Keys
• Debit or credit card
• Phone
• Maybe one emergency tissue

She teaches us that simplicity is powerful: you don’t need everything to be prepared.

What she models:

• Simplicity and focus
• Quiet confidence
• Thoughtful preparedness
• Minimalism that still meets daily needs

🎒 Type 2: The Rescue Ranger

The Carry-it-All Bag

The Rescue Ranger’s purse is a practical lifeline. It’s packed with supplies, organized into pouches, and ready for almost any small emergency. Whether the need is medical, mechanical, or simply for comfort, she’s the one people seek out.

What’s inside her bag?

• Band-aids and basic first-aid items
• Snacks and a granola bar (sometimes vintage)
• Flashlight or multi-tool
• Hand sanitizer, tissues, and gum
• Safety pins, common medicines, and chargers

This purse may be deceptively compact or satisfyingly large, but everything inside is carefully placed to maximize usefulness.

What she models:

• Practical care and stewardship
• Security through preparation
• Love expressed as readiness
• Comfort shaped by forethought

🌸 Type 3: The Magic Maker

The Bottomless Wonder Bag

The Magic Maker’s purse is delightfully mysterious — a bottomless bag of surprises. She’s the one who can calm a child with stickers and snacks or produce a costume accessory at a moment’s notice. Her bag contains comforts and creative solutions that brighten someone’s day.

What’s inside her bag?

• Stickers and small toys
• Fruit snacks and crackers
• Coloring supplies and wet wipes
• Handy little comfort items and emotional support tools

No one quite knows how everything fits, but it does — and she loves to share the little miracles she carries.

What she models:

• Nurture and creative problem-solving
• Joy and humor as a healing force
• Small acts that make a big emotional difference
• The way generosity and delight build connection

The Heart of It All

What I love about this exercise is how it highlights a deeper truth: every woman carries something meaningful. Whether she’s efficient, prepared, playful, nurturing, or practical, the contents of a purse often reflect how she loves and serves others.

Look back through your life and you’ll likely remember women who brought treasures into your world:

• Some offered wisdom and counsel.
• Some brought comfort in hard moments.
• Some filled rooms with laughter.
• Some lent strength and steady support.
• Some carried faith, hope, and quiet courage.

Others quietly bore burdens so you could carry hope. Each purse and each woman tells a story worth honoring.

A Note for Mother’s Day

This Purseanality Test began as a short object lesson for a Mother’s Day talk. I wanted a relatable image that connects women across generations and experiences — whether they are mothers or not.

Mother’s Day often brings a mix of emotions:

• For some, a day of joy.
• For others, a tender, reflective moment.
• For some, a day marked by grief or longing.
• For others, a time of deep gratitude.

Whatever feelings this day stirs in you, my hope is that you remember the women who loved you, shaped you, and carried faith, wisdom, and compassion into your life. May we honor them by living as people who give kindness with open hands and joyful hearts.

So, What’s Your Purseanality Type?

Whether your bag is pared-down, stocked for every scenario, or delightfully bottomless, may you be known for carrying grace, generosity, and kindness. Below are brief descriptions of each Purseanality to help you decide which one fits you best. Consider sharing this with friends or using it as a conversation starter at your next gathering.

Read the profiles above and decide: which purse personality feels most like you?

Below are visual examples to inspire you — consider shape, size, and function when choosing your next purse.