Christian ladies, this is my appeal to you. Please read this with the mindset "she IS talking to me," not, "she must be talking about someone else." I could be talking to someone else, but just play it on the safe side! :-)
I had Corinth at the beginning of May, and had all summer to be a stay at home mom, laying out by the pool with my baby sleeping in her car seat under the shade. I did it, and I loved it. And I wore my bikini to show off my "yep, that little baby is mine, and I can still wear a bikini" mindset. I even remember one lady telling me I looked so good that she couldn't believe I just had a baby. And it felt fabulous.
Fast forward 3 1/2 years. I've lived in India for 2 1/2 years, in the most conservative city in a conservative country, where you are considered a scandelous, inappropriate woman if you wear: jeans, sleeveless shirts, a shirt not going down to you mid-thigh/knee, a scarf over your shirt, or anything showing you legs (or even ankles). I would probably be murdered if I wore a bikini here. (Not really, but you get the point!) And let me tell you, some days it drives me absolutely crazy! I'm sorry, but have you ever met a man who was led astray by seeing someone's ANKLES??? Or SHOULDERS??? Good grief. But the more I live here, the deeper respect I have for Indians' modesty. It is not oppressive. It is Biblical. I know that about 5 of you who read this live in India and understand this already, but I'm mostly writing this for my American ladies, so let's bring it back to the good ole U.S.A.
Summer is coming. I know you're getting "swimsuit ready." I already see you wearing your shorty short shorts on Facebook. While hanging out with church friends. At a church function. In a church. Actually, that's why I'm writing this post. My appeal through this blog is to all women, but most specifically to married, Christian women.
Please think of what you are wearing with this mindset: "Is what I am wearing something that I would like my husband to see another woman wearing? Would it bother me if my husband were looking at another woman wearing what I'm wearing?" We, especially your Christian brothers, do not need to know what 90% of your body looks like while 10% is covered up by a swimsuit. We don't need to see you in shorts that you aren't comfortable sitting in or bending over in because they are THAT short. We don't need to see you in clothes so tight and clingy that nothing is left to the imagination, if you know what I mean. Save it for your hubby at home. When you're out, represent Christ with what you are wearing. If in doubt, cover up more. No one will look down on you for being too modest. Be someone that women are comfortable being around (when their husbands are with them), someone that your children will use as a measure of what they want when they grow up (for girls, to be like Mommy, for boys, to marry someone like Mommy). And be for Christ an example that is above reproach and a right representation of His gospel.
I've still got a body that I would feel comfortable wearing a bikini in. I just don't have a mindset that would feel comfortable anymore. I'm okay being more modest if it means saving brothers from temptation, sisters from jealousy (ha!), and lost souls from hearing the message of salvation because what I speak doesn't match up with how I live.
Food for thought- chew on it.
I had Corinth at the beginning of May, and had all summer to be a stay at home mom, laying out by the pool with my baby sleeping in her car seat under the shade. I did it, and I loved it. And I wore my bikini to show off my "yep, that little baby is mine, and I can still wear a bikini" mindset. I even remember one lady telling me I looked so good that she couldn't believe I just had a baby. And it felt fabulous.
Fast forward 3 1/2 years. I've lived in India for 2 1/2 years, in the most conservative city in a conservative country, where you are considered a scandelous, inappropriate woman if you wear: jeans, sleeveless shirts, a shirt not going down to you mid-thigh/knee, a scarf over your shirt, or anything showing you legs (or even ankles). I would probably be murdered if I wore a bikini here. (Not really, but you get the point!) And let me tell you, some days it drives me absolutely crazy! I'm sorry, but have you ever met a man who was led astray by seeing someone's ANKLES??? Or SHOULDERS??? Good grief. But the more I live here, the deeper respect I have for Indians' modesty. It is not oppressive. It is Biblical. I know that about 5 of you who read this live in India and understand this already, but I'm mostly writing this for my American ladies, so let's bring it back to the good ole U.S.A.
Summer is coming. I know you're getting "swimsuit ready." I already see you wearing your shorty short shorts on Facebook. While hanging out with church friends. At a church function. In a church. Actually, that's why I'm writing this post. My appeal through this blog is to all women, but most specifically to married, Christian women.
Please think of what you are wearing with this mindset: "Is what I am wearing something that I would like my husband to see another woman wearing? Would it bother me if my husband were looking at another woman wearing what I'm wearing?" We, especially your Christian brothers, do not need to know what 90% of your body looks like while 10% is covered up by a swimsuit. We don't need to see you in shorts that you aren't comfortable sitting in or bending over in because they are THAT short. We don't need to see you in clothes so tight and clingy that nothing is left to the imagination, if you know what I mean. Save it for your hubby at home. When you're out, represent Christ with what you are wearing. If in doubt, cover up more. No one will look down on you for being too modest. Be someone that women are comfortable being around (when their husbands are with them), someone that your children will use as a measure of what they want when they grow up (for girls, to be like Mommy, for boys, to marry someone like Mommy). And be for Christ an example that is above reproach and a right representation of His gospel.
I've still got a body that I would feel comfortable wearing a bikini in. I just don't have a mindset that would feel comfortable anymore. I'm okay being more modest if it means saving brothers from temptation, sisters from jealousy (ha!), and lost souls from hearing the message of salvation because what I speak doesn't match up with how I live.
Food for thought- chew on it.
