Did You Accessorize with Kindness Today?
The Spring Newsletter from Fashion Meets Faith went out yesterday and in it I wrote an article called
Does What You Wear Affect Other Women?
Did you read it? If not, here it is:
The Bible has such wise advice when it comes to dressing ourselves. One of my favorite verses comes from Colossians 3:12, it says,
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”
How we dress affects other women. Yes, I said women. Consider your friend who isn’t confident in her appearance; consider the woman at church whose husband isn’t faithful to her (with his eyes or otherwise), consider the mom at your child’s school who struggles with her weight. If you walk into a room showing off your assets in a not-so-modest way, you may affect the way another woman sees herself. All of a sudden, she feels even less confident in the way she looks. She didn’t see herself as pretty before she left the house and now her self-esteem has sunk even lower because she’s comparing herself to you.
This Spring, as skirts get shorter and tops get skimpier, I challenge you to consider others when you pick out your clothes each morning. Be kind and compassionate when you dress and consider how your choice of clothing may affect another woman; maybe even your BFF or your daughter who isn’t built like you. Consider those around you who could benefit from your gentle spirit and sincere humility. And if you’re the one who is affected by the way others dress, wouldn’t a little kindness from others go a long way in what they choose to wear?
My friend and CIC graduate Sharon Woryn made a comment on Facebook yesterday, after reading the article, and had this to say:
The Bible has such wise advice when it comes to dressing ourselves. One of my favorite verses comes from Colossians 3:12, it says,
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”
How we dress affects other women. Yes, I said women. Consider your friend who isn’t confident in her appearance; consider the woman at church whose husband isn’t faithful to her (with his eyes or otherwise), consider the mom at your child’s school who struggles with her weight. If you walk into a room showing off your assets in a not-so-modest way, you may affect the way another woman sees herself. All of a sudden, she feels even less confident in the way she looks. She didn’t see herself as pretty before she left the house and now her self-esteem has sunk even lower because she’s comparing herself to you.
This Spring, as skirts get shorter and tops get skimpier, I challenge you to consider others when you pick out your clothes each morning. Be kind and compassionate when you dress and consider how your choice of clothing may affect another woman; maybe even your BFF or your daughter who isn’t built like you. Consider those around you who could benefit from your gentle spirit and sincere humility. And if you’re the one who is affected by the way others dress, wouldn’t a little kindness from others go a long way in what they choose to wear?
My friend and CIC graduate Sharon Woryn made a comment on Facebook yesterday, after reading the article, and had this to say:
"I pray each morning that the Lord would line my lips with encouragement for others and my eyes with compassion."
I love that!
The thing I want to get across in this article, is not that we shouldn't dress nicely (for goodness sakes!) but when we dress each morning, we need to examine our HEART and perhaps the reason we're dressing a certain way. If we choose the low cut top because we know our friend's cute husband is in the room, we have a heart issue even more than a clothing issue...make sense?
So, tell me, how could you accessorize each day with one of the qualities that is described in Colossians. Say it in a sentence like Sharon did above. I can't wait to hear your responses!
Love you gals!
Shari
Fashion Meets Faith
5 comments:
I have a question. Most people at my church wear bluejeans.
Many do not have a lot of money. How do you think they feel
as I wear skirts and dresses?
I try to still be casual...
although I would like to be more dressed up "I" would feel
so out of place.
Do you have something to say on that subject?
Thank you for your input.
Every day I choose to wear clothes that allow me to be compassionate, to hug the youngsters in my world (none of whom I can claim on tax forms). May what I wear never restrict me... so I can be a friend to others (whatever age).
I think the most important thing about what you wear to church is that you feel confident that it is the right choice for you, and that it's appropriate for the setting...and also, that it's modest. As for the setting, some churches are more casual than others so if most are in jeans and you want to wear skirts and dresses, that's completely up to you. I'm sure you look and feel beautiful! And if you want to dress up more than what you do now, go for it! You're there to shine for Jesus!
How beautiful that you wear clothes so you can hug youngsters....Jesus must smile on you!
Thank you for your encouragement...
That I am there to shine for
Jesus!
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