Homesteading: A Woman's Journey

Loving our Brethren

This topic is one that is very close to my heart and weighs on it as I see the way society is going.  I pray that the Lord give me the words to express what needs to be said in a way that will touch your hearts. 

One of the many lessons that you learn through out your life is that just as Christ loved the church, we are to love one another.  We are also taught that we are not to be a stumbling block to our brethren.  If you love your brethren, you won't want to do anything that can cause them to stumble in their spiritual growth.

One of the ways that women can easily make men struggle, many times without realising it, is in the way we dress and present ourselves.   Often, I have noticed the fashions of today and I just cringe.  As I look, even in the baby/toddler area, I see clothing that is very inappropriate and immodest.  It is at times like these that I am so grateful that I know how to sew. 

We, as women, must be so very careful.  Even if the length of our dress is modest, if the fabric is too thin so as the slip is seen through it, or the dress style is too "form fitting", it can turn even the most modest of clothing into something immodest.  Imagine that you are looking at pictures taken when you were on an outing.  You are dressed modestly, standing out there in the beautiful sunshine with your family, when the picture was taken.  Later, when looking at the picture, you notice that in the sunlight, you can see the outline of your legs or underpinnings through your clothing.  How would you feel, knowing that while you were out and about that day (and every other day that you wore that outfit), men were able to see your shape through your dress?  Would you shrug this off or would you be embarrassed?   While your clothing at first appearance is modest in style, it still can be a distraction and stumbling block to our brethren.  

What about clothing that is fitting abit too snug?  Again, you can be fully covered, but your shape is still very revealed.  Often, I have seen women & girls wearing clothing that you could see the lines of their underclothes through the fabric because of the tight fit.  Many today try to avoid those lines by wearing underclothing that is even skimpier.  If you are wearing a top with a modest neckline & long enough to properly cover the stomach, yet it is so tight that the fabric literally hugs your chest, wouldn't that also draw the lustful thoughts of your brethren?  In theory, everything is covered with fabric, but is your shape concealed enough to be truly modest?

Just as wearing a fabric that is thick enough to conceal what we are wearing underneath is a help towards modesty, so is wearing clothing that is loose enough.  If you wear a snug fitted skirt/dress for example, when you bend over to pick something up, the hemline rises much more than a loose fitting one.  Also, a skirt too loose fitting can be immodest on a windy day if the breeze catches the hem.

Ladies, we have so much responsibility in how we dress.  The decision of what is modest is different from one person to the next.  Each must be prayerful in how to address the topic.  As wives, we need to seek the counsel of our husbands.  They are the spiritual leader of the home, and out of respect for them we should include them in our decision making process.

I am very blessed in that Joe fully supports my choice to convert my wardrobe to wearing Cape Dresses only.  From what I have studied, and through much discussion with Joe, and much prayer, this is the choice that we are led to.   This is not the choice of all women.  How you are led to dress is a very personal thing.  Maybe you work a job that requires a specific type of dress.  For example, if you work with children in a teaching or preschool position, modest slacks may be the best choice do to the types of activities that you are doing.  Each must choose for themselves.

It is hard to help young girls/women learn modest dress when their peers at school are dressing in the trendy & many times, immodest, styles of today.  Be prayerful and seek the Lord's guidance.  Take a hard look at your wardrobe & that of your daughters.  Is it a wardrobe that shows your love & caring for your brethren in their walk with the Lord? 

Girls & women are not the only ones.  Trends in some of the clothing that men wear is also very immodest.  Tight fitting jeans, for example.  I will admit that when I met my Beloved, Joe, I noticed how his pants fit his body.  I also noticed the buttons he left open at the neck of his shirt.  I was very drawn to the way he looked.  Praise the Lord, I also fell very much in love and have a great respect for Joe.  I see the deep faith he has in the Lord.  Since we married, I have noticed that the jeans he wears now are fitting bit more loosely than what he used to wear.  I am thrilled with it.  I may not mind the tight jeans at home, but I wouldn't like other women to be lusting after him for wearing tight jeans any more than he would want other men lusting after me because of immodest clothing.  Is this unreasonable?  Not to us.  We honor our commitment to each other through modest dress, by not drawing the unwanted lustful looks from others.  Let's face it, how loving are you being to your husband if you dress in a way that brings another man's lustful attention to you?  Are not women offended when their spouse notices & watches a skimpy dressed woman? 

I pray that you receive these words in the manner in which they were intended.  I say them in love & concern.  May the Lord bless each of you in your walk with Him.