Of Shorts and Bikinis
The other day I was at the store and I was observing what people were wearing while they were out and about. It seems that there are more ladies out there that are choosing to wear shorts that expose more leg than I can remember there being before.
What immediately linked in my head was that it was not a long way to go from short shorts and a clingy shirt to a bikini—and I wondered how a girl gets to the point where they think it comfortable to parade in their underwear in public—in front of men, no less.
The house behind me has a beautiful in ground swimming pool, and yet I’m glad that there’s a fence, and trees around, because every time that family has their family over to swim, undoubtedly one of the older females of the family will be in a bikini.
And I would submit that this is where our young ladies learn that this is acceptable.
She Models Herself After You
Mom, if you wear low cut swimsuits or bikinis, your daughters will see this and not have as much of a problem wearing it as well, because you are her example.
Dad, if you like your wife in her underwear outside, and make positive comments about this sort of thing, you’re encouraging your daughter to do the same. And shame on you, because you know the way that swimwear effects you as a man.
She Sees it All Around
Where are the pictures of the girls that are ashamed to be in their underwear in public? They’re not to be seen. They don’t see it in television shows—the women in those are all of unrealistic sizes and always showing off tan bodies. They don’t see it in magazines—all they see there is perfect, airbrushed bodies that attract positive attention.
If everywhere they look they see examples of strong girls that gain positive attention wearing their underwear in public, what conclusion do you think they will come to?
She’s Introduced at an Early Age
Shame is natural. Whereas really young children might like the “freedom” of running around sans clothing, as a young boy or girl grows up they will find that there will be a natural sense of shame.
My two oldest boys now want to wear shirts outside when they’re in our backyard pool because that’s what they did when they were younger. They feel shame and a degree of immodesty at going shirtless.
If we’d trained them differently they wouldn’t have a problem. If you train your daughter to dress modestly, whether it be shorts or swimwear, a natural sense of modesty through good shame will help to keep them modest.
Conclusion
Modesty in dress, starting at an early age with good roll models and guidance, can provide a great groundwork to being modest in all aspects of life. And modesty is more than just about clothing. It carries over into how we carry ourselves, what we think about our body, and what is important in our lives.
Modesty is as much a heart issue as it is a clothing issue.
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AMEN!! Thanks so much for this article. You’re exactly right. My Mom is my biggest role model for how a woman should dress. I appreciate her modesty in and out of the house and what a godly example she is.
Wow. Absolutely agree. Well said – er…- written.
I’ve been told that it’s best to dress your little girls just as modestly as you will when they’re big. A lot of people let their little ones run around in next to nothing. They get used to it and want to dress that way when they’re older as well.
#Feb2011NCARating