Missing the Mark
I grew up with a very religious background. Because of that, I heard a lot about modesty. Most of the modest talk referred to how we dressed—specifically, how young women dressed. It seemed to be how most things were at the time, very black and white. These clothes were good. These clothes were bad.
Over time, the message of modesty started to get twisted. Now it wasn’t really about the clothes at all, but about the girls who wore them. “Good” girls covered everything up, while the “bad” girls exposed it all. How women dressed became the gateway for how men got to act. Women needed to cover up, for their bodies were sexy and innappropriate.
Um…
In response to such ridiculousness, there has been a great push back. Women, in an effort to rebel, started dressing with less and less fabric. Dresses became shorter and skimpier, with plunging necklines and sheer materials. The edgier the look, the better. Shorts barely cover our bottoms, and almost everything is tight as can be. YEAH! We showed them!!! Right?
Actually, I think we have missed the mark.
Women’s bodies are beautiful, not dirty. I believe we are made in God’s image—-men AND women. And while the pendulum swings from all covered up to not covered at all, the message remains the same: women are nothing more than a body to be looked at and used, when needed. GAG. Even writing that sentence makes me sick. It’s wrong, and it always has been.
As the mother of four beautiful girls, I’d like to change the message.
No woman on earth is one-dimensional. We all have unique traits and talents and abilities, and they come together into one, ever-evolving human. Isn’t that marvelous?!! So when you get dressed and post pictures on social media, what message are you sending out about yourself? Get curious about this and answer the question. Would anyone think you are more than a “hot bod”? If the answer is no, ask yourself, is that enough for you?
Women are so much more than their appearance. I know this. I am actively teaching my daughters this truth in the midst of a world where being “hot” is the ultimate achievement. Don’t get sucked in to such a lie.
I’ll end with my own 18 year comparison. Who would I pick? The 2004 Holly is younger and perkier. Her skin is smooth and unwrinkled, and her whole body is still pretty gravity-resistant. The 2022 Holly is older, wrinkled, and her body is wearing out…some things faster than others. But I would pick the current me everyday and twice on Sunday. If you only judge the outside appeareance, it seems like a crazy choice. However, I know all the other facets in 2022 Holly. She has experience, wisdom, growth, understanding, compassion, knowledge, and so many learned lessons behind those wrinkles.
Again, I ask, what message are you putting out about yourself? Give yourself all the credit. You deserve it. You are more than just a body.
Don’t miss the mark.
