The Truth

By Cyndi Kinney, R.N., Ed. D.

Knowledge Box Central

www.knowledgeboxcentral.com

Cyndi@knowledgeboxcentral.com

It’s time for the truth about modesty to be told to the girls of our times. The truth, no matter how hard it may be to hear, is this: It is a sin to seek to attract the worship of our fellow man. God did not send His son to die for us so that we could feel good about ourselves and our bodies….or so that we could adorn our bodies in a way as to draw attention to them. He surely is disgusted by today’s society’s apparent disregard for His plan for our girls.

Satan is winning the war between modesty and self-esteem….and he is taking our girls with him. He has used many of today’s resources to persuade our girls that beauty and self-worth can be gained through tight and revealing clothing and other forms of “beautifying products.” It is our responsibility as parents to defeat him by arming our girls with Godly virtues, specifically that of modesty.

But how? First, we must understand modesty and WHY it is important, and then what it really is. In the King James Version of the Bible, we read in I Timothy 2:9 “In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with braded hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array.” In Proverbs 31:30, we read “Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain.”

Webster’s New World Dictionary for Young Adults defines “modest” as “not boastful about one’s worth, skills, deeds; behaving, dressing, speaking, etc. in a way that is considered proper or moral; quiet and humble in looks, style, etc.” It defines “humble” as “not proud or bold; low in rank or position; plain and simple. It defines “plain” as “without luxury; simple; easy; homely; not fancy or much decorated; common, ordinary.” And, it defines “vain” as “having no real value or meaning; worthless.”

So, from this, we see that God’s plan was for women (and girls) to live their lives with modest, humble, and plain adornment, and that beauty is vain. Does this sound like something your daughters will like to hear…or even believe? That’s the hard part! How do we compete with what the televisions, movies, and magazines tell our girls? The BEST way is to be a great example to them.

Titus 2:4-5 tells us that older women are to “teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, obedient to their husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.” What type of clothing do YOU wear? What does your daughter see in the examples of you and your female family members? Plunging necklines? Short skirts? High slits in dresses or skirts? Tight clothing? These are all designed to send a very seductive message to men. Don’t say it isn’t your intention……it projects a sexual image, and it arouses men, whether it is your intention or not. Unless girls are taught this difference between the male and female thoughts/minds, they will not convey purity and modesty, but they will convey messages that will make it very difficult for boys and men to keep their thoughts pure.

Today, the television shows, radio songs, and teen magazines tell our girls that being “beautiful” will give them self-esteem and make them popular and loved. These sources also tell them that in order to be “beautiful,” they must dress in clothing that shows the shapes of their bodies. The truth is that most boys DO pay more attention to girls whose clothing accentuates certain parts of their bodies. Girls enjoy this attention, and if they have not had proper instruction, they will fall into this trap and seek to please these boys even more, thereby attracting more attention. These girls don’t realize what type of image they are portraying or what types of boys they are attracting.

In today’s world, we have 5 year old girls who are wearing bikini swimming suits and asking if they look fat. This is ridiculous! Have they heard us ask this question? Do they think that this is what is important? Do they think that this is the way to be beautiful? What are we going to do?

I say we need to have a “Modesty Revolution.” We must show our girls what modesty really is. We must decide if we want Brittany Spears and Madonna to teach our girls about appropriate clothing….or are WE going to do it? We must evaluate our own closets and decide what example we are really displaying. Are we “teaching the younger women” as Paul tells us in Titus? Do we truly believe that “beauty is vain,” as in Proverbs? If we don’t believe and practice the biblical principles, how can we expect our daughters to practice them?

We must call ourselves to the standards of God. I’m preaching to myself. As I am writing this, I’m thinking of the shirts in my closet that I need to burn. Ask yourself and your daughter what “modesty” means. Check your definitions. Mine were a little cloudy.

I’ve made the decision to create a series of Unit Studies and Lapbooks on the virtues that we want for our daughters….and I think I’ll start with Modesty. (I hear you, God.) My daughter needs to learn these virtues from me…that’s what Paul teaches us. I know that I will be convicted all along the way, as I design these studies. I hope that many of you will join me for the this delightful journey. Please watch for these products at www.knowledgeboxcentral.com.