By Christina Peters
Should you want to be modest?
Do you need to be modest?
What is the point?
Why not “flaunt what you got?”
Coming from both ends I hope to shine some light on this issue.
Why I liked to dress however I wanted to:
It felt “cool.” I seemed to be “perfect.” It was easy to be pretty and desired. It was fun. I enjoyed the attention. I was always complimented on how fashionable I was. How beautiful I appeared. I had no reason to change….until I realized I didn’t like all the attention.
Why I choose to dress the way I do now:
After a while of dressing in short skirts, tanks, midriff tops, super low hip-huggers. (You get the picture, need I continue?) I realized that the stares, the pointing, the talk, the façade wasn’t what I wanted. It certainly wasn’t what I wanted to “market” myself as. Looking like the typical blonde (blue eyes included) I had enough against me. That’s right, I said against me. My idea of a godly person wasn’t someone who went around looking cute on the outside and being lackluster on the inside. Here I was, a youth leader, and I dressed like someone who would stay at the pool all day boy scoping. I didn’t want to be like every other lost person without a cause. I had my cause. I knew why I was here. I understood my purpose-to lead others to Christ. So why didn’t I live it?
I didn’t understand that God’s plan was indeed better than the one I had created myself. Besides, I had everything going my way. Why risk it for some God?
That is where I went wrong. Life is all about taking risks, no, I am not talking about bungee jumping or other death defying stunts. I am talking about taking risks with what counts. Getting out of your comfort zone and trying something new is what I mean.
I haven’t even addressed the issue of how the way you dress affects guys. Does it? Yes, you bet it does. Anyone who has dressed immodestly knows this. Do you enjoy it? I’m sure at first you really did. But how about now? Do you like older guys you don’t know to come up to you and whisper in your ear, “Hey, honey?” Do you like their heads to turn and stare (for just a bit too long)? It made me sick each time that happened. If I had a dollar for each time a head has turned for much much too long…
Funny thing about this is I get ladies from my church who say, “You look so modest and yet, so stylish. How do you do it?” I can’t tell you how funny that is. Considering it wasn’t long ago when I was dressing the opposite way. Still, a large smile sweeps across my face each time that happens. Because it means I have accomplished one more thing. Something I struggled with. I didn’t believe my family or friends when they were telling me I was giving guys the “wrong idea.” But after I did listen things started to look up for me again. That’s where God comes in. He blessed me for my persistence, patience, and understanding.
Disregarding the guys who are not Christians; how do you think it makes your brothers (in Christ) feel? Their sister is dressing like the world. It hurts their eyes, and their minds, to see you dress like that. Images flood their heads. No, they are not thinking this is the girl I want to marry. Their thoughts go more along the lines of this is the girl I want for fun. Now what exactly does “fun” entail?
Now that you know their thoughts, do you still want to dress immodestly? Do you want to lead them on with nothing more to offer than outer beauty?
Plumb did a great justice to this subject. Read her lyrics to the song Real from her album Beautiful Lumps of Coal.
Real
Written by Christa Wells & Tiffany Arbuckle Lee
Look at me I’m twenty three
Beautiful a sight to see, tonight
A little dress to draw the press
And I’ll be leaving
All the rest behind
Well be pleased girl
If this is what you wanted
The whole world is watching you take the stage
What will you say?
Aren’t I lovely?
And do you want me cause
I am hungry for something that will make me real
Can you see me and
Do you love me cause
I am desperately searching for something, Real
I close my eyes imagine time
Will not forget, my sacrifice
I numb the ache and decorate
My emptiness
Stand naked in the light
Well be pleased world
If this is what you wanted
This young girl is everything that you made
What will she say?
The world goes home
The lights go down
My lipstick fades away
What is left after everything fades away?
Ask yourself this question…
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