Exceptional
Analogies ::
Analogy for the Fashion-Conscious
There's
a trend in today's society. Often it seems like
there's nothing that can be said or done about
it that hasn't been said or done before. Well,
Working MomT has something new to say.and
we say it best in analogies or parables.
A scrawny boy who nobody paid much attention to
grew up. As a teenager, his muscles developed;
he grew bigger and stronger than the other boys.
He became a real dynamo on the football field.
In fact, when he walked down the hall, he went
straight through the crowd...if someone got in
his way, he knocked them over... after all; he
had the power to do it.
A scrawny girl who nobody paid much attention
to grew up. As a teenager, her body developed;
she had a figure most girls didn't. She became
a real head-turner. In fact, when she walked down
the hall wearing something that showed off her
curves, anyone with two eyes would stop and take
a second look...after all; she had the power to
make them.
USE OF HIS POWER
In church
on Sunday in line for the fellowship meal would
it be appropriate for the boy to push a 90-year-old
lady out of the way so he could eat first? After
all, he's got a stronger need for food since
he's still growing. And if something
rings true in the adage "might makes right" then
he's got the right; because he's got the might.
That kind
of reasoning simply doesn't hold water.it's
clearly an abuse of the boy's God-given physical
power. It's bad enough when he pushes people around
in school, but it's even worse when he does it
in church to a 90 year old lady. Ultimately, his
choice to satisfy his own needs at someone else's
expense will cost him something.respect. (Not to
mention assault and battery is against the law
of the land and the law of God.)
USE OF HER POWER
In church
on Sunday in line for the fellowship meal would
it be appropriate for the girl to wear something
intended to "Turn heads?" Arguably,
she's got a stronger need for "appreciative glances" since
she never had them before.And if something rings
true in the adage "If you've got it; flaunt
it!" then she's got it; so it's hers to flaunt.
That kind
of reasoning doesn't hold water either.it's
an abuse of her God-given physical power. It's
bad enough when she dresses to "turn heads" at
school, but its even worse when she does it in
church to people who came to worship God. Ultimately,
her choice to satisfy her own needs at someone
else's expense will cost her something.respect.
(Not to mention lewdness and indecency is against
the law of the land and the law of God.) She'll
pay the price for "turning those heads" the minute
her back is turned.
SAYS WHO?
You seldom hear admonitions to dress modestly
from someone who actually could flaunt it...but
chooses not to. If I had a mind to talk about myself,
I could probably do it without looking too ridiculous,
but I'll spare you. I don't want you imagining
me as anything other than the ordinary working
mom I am. But I will tell you the reasons I've
found to NOT to reveal too much in my clothing
choices:
REASON #1
1. Habitually
dressing "sexy" magnifies
a very telling insecurity. It's begging for an
answer to these questions:
- "Am I worth
looking at?"
- "Do you like
me?"
- "Do you REALLY, REALLY like
me?"
Most of
us have enough self-control not to ask questions
like that to perfect strangers, (no matter how
much we might want the answer.) But dressing
sexy begs the question-without words. It reveals
more than skin and curves, it reveals a pitiful
insecurity.
REASON #2
2. Dressing
without modesty also shows a lack of concern
for others. For example, if you had a friend
who was on a "low-carb" diet, would you
deliberately put donuts right in front of them?
A nice person wouldn't say, "Hey, if you can't
control your appetite, I'm not going to restrict
myself!"
Likewise,
men at work and men in church are on a "low-lust" diet. A nice person wouldn't deliberately
fan the flames of desire by wearing provocative
clothing. "Hey, if he can't control his thoughts,
I'm not going to restrict myself"
- It's self-centered,
- Shows no concern for the welfare of others,
- And seeks to take attention away from getting
the job done at work, or the worship of God at
church.
It diverts
attention to something else.anything
else.even a woman's body.now who do you think inspires
that? Who do you think wants to see it happen at
church on Sunday, or in the middle of an important
assignment at work? It's like giving the enemy
of God a toe-hold.
REASON #3
3. No
one looks at a man who beats up on his wife and
kids and thinks "Now that took courage, he's
a strong, brave guy!" Beating up on women and kids
doesn't take any courage at all. It proves just
the opposite.it proves he doesn't have any or he'd
pick on someone his own size.
Likewise,
it doesn't prove a woman's beauty when she dresses
in tight or revealing clothes. If she were beautiful
indeed, she wouldn't need to show so much of
her "stuff" to
be noticed. In both cases it makes their insecurity
and weakness even more obvious...
Hopefully this provides new insight to an old
dilemma. These are my thoughts, and you can quote
me, Sabrina O'Malone. Feel free to send this to
people you think might have something to say about
it. (We love to hear everyone's point of view.)
-Sabrina O'Malone
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