Alright, I know I may get some flak about this one... but I'm not going to be "modest" about it
MODESTY
... I feel this topic gets thrown out there every once in awhile on social media. It seems to be a controversial issue at times even at BYU.
Specifically though, lately my wife and I have been talking about our daughter, Charlotte, and the importance of her learning to be modest (she is currently 18 months). We have decided to dress her modestly since she was born. The other day, my wife asked me if one of the outfits that Charlotte had on was modest. I said, "Well the sleeves are too short... but I guess that's okay..." then I caught myself... and my wife did as well and said:
"Why is it okay for a baby to be immodest?"
Now maybe it's just me... and my wife for that matter... but we have personally decided to help our little girl learn to be modest from day 1. We even just bought Charlotte an Easter dress... with no sleeves, so we bough a jacket to go with it.
THOUGH... I feel like this is not just an issue for babies and the decisions of the parents... I see this at BYU as well. Which still doesn't make any sense to me. This is the whole leggings-yoga pants-type deal that people are bloggin' about.
For me though, if someone said, "Hey Chad, I don't feel like what you wear is modest..." I would say, "GREAT! Thank you!" I mean, who am I to draw attention to myself for what I am wearing?
LDS.org says concerning modesty:
"Modesty is an attitude of propriety and decency in dress, grooming, language, and behavior. If we are modest, we do not draw undue attention to ourselves. Instead, we seek to “glorify God in [our] body, and in [our] spirit”
All I have to say is who are we to match our wisdom with that of God's? If it is even questionable should we really be living on the edge of the cliff to begin with? Come on people!
We should really be thinking:
“Would I feel comfortable with my appearance if I were in the Lord's presence?”
"What shall a man (or woman) give in exchange for his (or her) soul? Are you exchanging the Lord's thoughts on modesty for your own?
Great thoughts. Something to for sure think about. I love that definition of modesty from lds.org. I could always do better.
ReplyDeleteWell said good sir. Modesty is a reflection of the soul (that should be on a fortune cookie or something) You rock
ReplyDeleteI really like this. I often think the same thing when I see little kids (especially little girls) in clothes I am sure their parents don't want them wearing in ten years. I like that you have taken the initiative to teach your daughter from a young age, then she will never have to question the types of clothes she will wear because she knows the expectations.
ReplyDeleteI really appreciate this, however I do not like the phrase "Modest is Hottest." For some reason I just think that it is promoting the same thing immodest clothes do: Dress for guys to think you are hot. I appreciate hearing compliments from my husband, but I worry that girls are getting the wrong message when they are still trying to be "hot" to the guys around them. It objectifies us in some way still.
ReplyDelete(I'm not trying to attack you, and I don't think that you are objectifying women at all!! I just think that if both young men and young women are taught this it could send the wrong idea).
Anyways, those are my thoughts. Sorry I am not eloquent, and I hope I didn't come off as holier than thou.
I like your comment. It shows how things can effect us throughout our life... That's a phrase I heard growing up as a youth, but I didn't even realized that when I wrote it, but I agree... so I took it off. I have never used the phrase "hot" when referring to someone, even my own wife. I appreciate your comments.
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