It's that time of year when women all across America basically disrobe as the temperatures soar. With two young daughters watching me, I have often struggled with the question what does a christian woman look like? What does she wear? How does this play out in my real life? Actually, I think it's just as important for my boys too. While I know grace works in our hearts, I also believe we shouldn't just blend into our society either. We are Christian women, and should be set apart. Yet practically speaking, it has been a journey of many starts and fits for me. I am not 'there' yet. 

We have been going to the base pool a lot lately. Seeing girls and women in public wearing what would basically amount to being their underwear or less has suddenly become very embarrassing to me. I used to pay no attention (in fact, I worked as a lifeguard in high school!). My girls both choose to wear shorts over their swimsuits and are very modest in comparison. Yet I'm not sure that's even enough. The past few years I have become more and more stunned and embarrassed by the way women and girls in our country dress. It makes me ashamed. It seems to me we have given up our last shreds of dignity and feel no shame in wearing what would have been underclothing in generations past. Some may laugh and call me old fashioned. I suppose I am!

However, instead of taking a negative defensive posture to all this, I am choosing to go at it a different way with my girls. We talk about dressing like a lady, being feminine. Here's a great article with some practical ideas. Also, yet another great post by my friend Kim with a link to another good article. My little 7 yr old came down the stairs the other day with a cute little skirt on with her tiny purse over her arm and sighed happily and said "I just LOVE dressing like a girl!"  That makes me smile.