A Classy Lady

Five daughters have me talking a lot about clothing/beauty....what's appropriate....what's not....and why not and BACK TO SCHOOL shopping can get those conversations rolling.  Where I do not believe clothing or beauty issues are "mountains to die on"...(sometimes I feel like I come close to it :P) I do think a right heart puts a lot of things in perspective....and clothing issues-attractiveness are some of those things that girls have to surrender to GOD as they mature and figure out what it means to be a Godly woman.  We have to counter culture on so many levels to see ourselves as beautiful in God's eyes and come to an understanding of how God defines beauty.

The first thing I want my girls to know is that GOD made them and so they are valuable and exquisite despite any other way that they perceive themselves differently from day to day.  I found a sign for their bathroom that says....BE. YOU. TIFUL and I love that as the beginning to addressing this fact.....thankfully, there have been others who have made wonderful statements like this....

Thanks, Audrey!

We also talk about modesty and appropriateness....at first, when the catch phrase "modesty is hottesty" came out, I loved it.  It is clever (which I always enjoy) but, it also defeats it's own purpose...in a way.  If you are practicing modesty, then you are probably not concerned with what's "hot" and what's not because to embrace modesty you are starting to realize the value and power of your inward beauty...to think in terms of making the world around you more beautiful...and not just focusing on your outward appearance...you start to realize that is a waste of PRECIOUS time.  I love to see girls/women discover that....it changes them...it frees them.  

There is a transition that happens for many females from trying to be a super model/woman....to an abiding woman....I saw this contrast list the other day and checked myself against it.  I have to admit, I still have a lot of areas to allow GOD to work in me and change my perspective because there are points in this list where I see myself going back and forth between lists.

To "HAVE CLASS"?....now it is starting to make me think you never really "have class"  you're IN CLASS

....so, who's your teacher?