Well, It has been over a month since my last post and I apologize for the wait. Daily life seems to take over sometimes (or I just can't force myself into a writing mood). For some reason, I can't wrap my head around how quickly Christmas season came this year. Most of us look forward to next Christmas, the day after Christmas is over each year. I remember feeling like that as a child. It is a wonderful time of year though surprisingly not my favorite holiday. I can certainly appreciate the true meaning of Christmas (Jesus' birth). I have fond memories of making birthday cakes for Jesus as a token of celebration for Christ's b-day on Christmas day. I love the family time, the pretty lights and decorations (the ones that aren't too "hallmark-y"), the tasty baked goods, the snow (even though that hardly exists in Cali) and being able to surprise loved ones with gifts. However, I'm not a fan of opening gifts in front of people. I know that may sound funny to some...but I definitely get more joy out of giving than receiving. I don't know, it's just hard for me to have that "happy/surprised" face when I open gifts, and some people may take that as a lack of gratitude..which proves to be awkward. I wish I could easily jump up and down or shout out non-phony exclamations of surprise/joy...but those moments rarely come for me and I can't conjure those emotions on demand. I would stink as an actress. ha.
Anyway, those who are closest to me (or know of my family traditions) could easily answer that my favorite holiday is St. Patrick's Day. I'm looking forward to my first year of celebrating that day as a married couple. Someday, I'd love to throw St. Patrick Day parties each year (and not an excuse-to-get-drunk kinda party)...once I figure out how to plan and throw parties without stressing about it too much ;) Oh, and if you're wondering why St. Patty's is my fav holiday? It's rather hard to pinpoint, but I've just always loved the Irish culture (my family is half-irish after all). Love the accents. Love (some of) the food. LOVE the green covered hills and everything I've heard of the country of Ireland (DEF on my bucked list to visit). I love how my family celebrated this holiday-a big traditional Irish feast, lots of green-wearing, celtic music and dancing, and a few games of hot potato. No pressures of gift receiving or giving. Just plain fun, family time where we got to celebrate our heritage. I hope my future children will love this holiday too!
So, now you know that my favorite holiday is not Christmas. This has nothing to do with the topic of my blog, but I guess I was in the mood to give you some random info about me! lol
Today, I'm going to cover just #5 of the keys to a modest wardrobe. This one is really important to me, and I've got quite a bit to say about it.
5. Know Your Body
(Dress according to your individual figure, beware of the Magnetic Mirror Syndrome and Appreciate the Way you were uniquely made.)
Key #5: Know Your Body
Let's face it- we live in a culture where body image is huge, particularly for women. It's a truth that I find very sad. Depending upon the time period, our culture tells us that we should be skinnier, curvier, taller, shorter, wear certain clothes or certain makeup, etc. etc. etc. However, we must come to know that our happiness does not depend on whether we meet these cultural goals. I believe happiness (as far as how we feel about ourselves and our bodies) can be achieved partly by accepting our bodies the way they are, and knowing how to dress accordingly. Just because you have curves, does not mean you need to wear clothes that show them off obnoxiously. If you lack curves, it does not mean you need to wear an extra padded bra (and definitely doesn't require plastic surgery!!!). If you are heavier set, then you probably don't want to wear tight-fitting clothes...but you don't need to hide under humongous clothes either. Another thing I've found, is that height matters when it comes to modesty as well. For example, I can pull off wearing a shorter skirt and still be modest...because I happen to have short legs! Girls with longer legs could wear the same skirt I'm wearing and be totally immodest. The main point is to wear clothing that fits and accentuates your body type, in a modest way. I am currently in a complex where I need to get new jeans that fit better...mine are mostly skinny jeans and are getting too tight. I HATE HATE HATE pants shopping, but for the sake of modesty I shall drag myself to find some better fitting pants in the near future. Wish me luck! :P
The Magnetic Mirror Syndrome
God designed each of us with a beautiful, unique body that we are to use to honor him while on Earth. I don't think he smiles upon us when we "freak out" over our appearance or spend far too many minutes in the mirror (I call it the Magnetic Mirror Syndrome). I know I used to have a problem in my junior high and high school years, where I felt I needed to inspect my appearance at every possible moment. I don't know if it was the cute boys I was "needing" to impress, or if I was terribly self-conscious about how I looked (probably both, to be honest). I had a makeup compact that I would use to check my appearance in as my dad or mom drove me to school. I would check it in the bathroom, I would check it in the locker room after P.E. Even as I scoffed at all the other girls who crowded the bathroom mirrors. I even found myself trying to check my appearance in the windows around school! Not until my dad said to me in the car one morning on the way to school (while I was looking in that "magnetic" mirror again) "Anna, you look beautiful. Why do you need to keep looking in the mirror?". I felt ashamed, embarrassed, and wondered if my dad thought me the most vain person alive. Slowly, I was able to be cured of the Magnetic Mirror Syndrome. I still keep a compact in my purse, but now I don't worry as much about how I look every second of the day. I have a husband who thinks I'm beautiful, and I have a maker who does as well. I don't NEED to impress others with how I look anymore. It's nice to have those days where you just feel pretty and confident or you have a fun new outfit to wear for the day...but truly, that's not what life is all about. Beware the magnetic mirror syndrome!
Knowing your body encompasses both knowing what kinds of clothes your body looks best in and most MODEST in, as well as knowing that you are beautiful the way you were made.
"For you created my inmost being; you
knit me together in my mother's womb."
Psalms 139:13
How beautiful is that? I've always held this verse dear to my heart and go back to it when I'm struggling with my self-image. God had a special design for EACH of us, before we even breathed our first breath. He knew how we would look at each stage in our life, and his love never falters... no matter how ugly we may think ourselves. HE KNITTED us together. I know how to knit, but I only know one stitch. I know there are hundreds of different stitches and patterns out there, but I've stuck to my simple, comfortable stitch which my grandmother taught me years ago. Can you imagine how many "Knitting" patterns God has?? He had an Anna Christine pattern all ready, before I was even in my mother's womb. And as I grew in my mother's womb, he was knitting my pattern and creating me into a breathing creation. SO amazing. I can't wait to see what patterns God comes up with for my future children. Isn't it almost like we are offending God when we think ourselves ugly? Would we tell an artist that his painting is ugly or a photographer that his picture sucks? Okay, maybe some of us would...haha. My point is, how differently would we think about our appearance if we saw ourselves through God's own eyes-as a beautiful, unique masterpiece which he knit together out of pure love? Wow. I know that this truth really convicts me and encourages me to change my thought patterns.
I want to leave you with this beautiful song, which I heard while at a Mercy Me concert a few years ago. It brought tears to my eyes, when the lead singer said he'd written this for his own daughters. It's so sweet and such pure, simple truth.
The song is titled "Beautiful" by Mercy Me
My favorite lyrics of the song:
"Before you ever took a breath
Long before the world beganOf all the wonders He possessedThere was one more preciousOf all the earth and skies aboveYou're the one He madly lovesEnough to dieYou're beautifulYou're beautifulIn his eyes"
See the video here (Copy/Paste the link): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WnAq0o2Xl8
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Remember, you are beautiful in your maker's eyes, and he does not see you how the world does. Know your body, and appreciate that you are a beautiful creation and should dress it in a way which accentuates you in a modest way.
Cheers! :)
Anna
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