This week I did a little experiment. I challenged myself to wear a dress or skirt every day. I certainly am not into legalism, and would never say that women shouldn't wear pants...I just think femininity deserves a comeback.
The first thing I noticed when I put on a dress was how I felt. I felt pretty. I walked with a little extra twirl in my step. I felt feminine and beautiful. I found that it made everyday chores a little more...wholesome. I just felt like the women of old, full of grace and strength and dignity. Am I being dramatic? I don't think so. Our clothes have a lot of power. It is amazing to me how wearing something a little too short or tight can completely change my personality. I feel insecure...suffocated. But, in a well fitting and flowing skirt, I feel...like me.
I then noticed my husband's reaction. He told me I was beautiful every day. Now, this is coming from a man who will say that after I've been through 16 hours of labor. He says it on days of no make-up and no sleep. But this time...it was different. His eyes lit up.
My children would say, "Mommy looks so pretty today!". They saw a softer side of me. They still reached for me with sticky hands, they buried their faces in my lap and wiped their tears on my skirt...did it make me more approachable?
I went through my day just like every day. I chased after the chickens that had escaped from their pen. I cooked and cleaned and cared for my children. I wasn't afraid of getting dirty. Clothes aren't meant to last forever.
This challenge was really good for me. Every girl should feel pretty. It wasn't that I put on a dress and all my insecurities just melted away...they were still there staring back at me in the mirror, but dressing up made the mundane feel a little more magical.
i wear shirts and dresses A LOT. i don't own many shorts because i feel more like myself in a dress or skirt. when i feel like poo i always put a skirt on because it's true, they do have a special power to make one feel better about themselves.
ReplyDeleteHi, Crystal!
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Jennifer
Hi Crystal! I loved this one. I am not into legalism at all. Legalism means a strict conformity to a set of rules or legal code. Holiness means conformity to the character and will of God. The Lord wants ME to wear a dress or skirt at all times. For instance the OT concept of holiness was seperation from and dedication to. Like the Sabbath was holy because it was seperated from work, and other mundane activities. The tabernacle vessels were holy because they were seperated from ordinary use and dedicated to sacred use. Anyway, sorry to ramble but i believe the Word says for us to come apart and be seperate touch not the unclean thing and i will recieve you. Romans 12;1-2 Eph. 4;22-24 I could go on and on. Wearing a dress is just modesty to me, like on the bathroom doors...girl door and boy door....we look for the dress, we go in that door. alot to think about.....Love you!!! thanks for letting me ramble, keep writing!! love marie Fair
ReplyDeleteI love this post! Thank you for helping me realize that I have been wearing black sweatpants for the last month! (since my last baby was born) I think I am going to try this experiment too...
ReplyDeleteWhere do you find your dresses? I love the dress that you are wearing in the picture. I struggle to find "decent" dresses. We live in a college town and everything is geared toward the students, not modesty.
ReplyDeleteThat dress is my favorite! It was actually a hand-me-down from my sister in law. I find most of my clothes at thrift stores. My standards for modesty are usually hard to find in regular stores, but in thrift stores I have always been able to find something.
ReplyDeleteI loved this! I agree with what you said at the beginning about femininity deserving a comeback. Stopping by from Raising Homemakers.
ReplyDeletei love this. i have recently purchased 2 skirts and i have noticed my sweet husbands and children's reactions. they do love it as much as i love feeling so beautiful.
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