My Modesty Testimony/Story

When you are a little girl, your mom chooses what you wear and why. At first, you couldn’t care less. And then, all too soon, you begin caring.

“No, I don’t want to wear the yellow dress! I want to wear the green one!”

After that stage you begin noticing styles, and what other girls are wearing.

“But Mom--Susie’s mom lets her wear those shorts!”

Next, you’re on to the “Why?” stage.

“Why do you want me to dress like this?” “Why can’t I dress like everyone else?” Not that you are trying to be rebellious, necessarily—you just wonder.

Now, I can’t speak for everyone, but this is how it happened with me. My mother was always careful to dress us modestly. Then, as I started choosing my own clothes, I began choosing clothes that were not as modest as they should have been.

I wanted to “fit in” more than I currently did. My mother wisely bought a book for Hannah and I, which really helped me understand how important, beautiful and powerful modesty is--and also how distracting and harmful immodesty can be.

After that, I’ve continued learning more about modesty. One resource that I really found helpful and encouraging is the Modesty Survery.

Now, I don’t, by any means, have this all figured out-- but I have a much more joyful attitude towards modesty now. I see it as a way to bring glory to God, to show the world that I’m set apart, to honor my father and also my possible future husband. God has made us female, and beautifully so. We have a responsibility to use this beauty and power wisely. Not that we want to dress in a way that is ugly and hides the fact that we are girls—rather, we want to dress in a way that shows that we are ladies who are “set apart” or “called out” from this world. I know that modesty is not as important as some areas—after all, God does look at the heart. But we must remember that man does look at the outward appearance.