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GUEST ARTICLE
Testimonies
from young ladies
who
are dresses only
To answer your first question, I'm “very” active
in my skirts! :) I love the outdoors. Some outdoor activities
I've learned to do in a skirt include: hiking (in the mountains
- just beautiful!), wading in our creek, driving four-wheelers,
jumping on the trampoline, and playing running games with
my siblings and friends. I wear ankle-length or slightly
higher skirts, and ones that are quite full, because I've
found it's easiest that way.
For town or indoors, I like straighter, narrower skirts
- more of a "sporty" style, you might say. When
I'm buying or making clothes, I ask myself three questions:
1), Will this be modest?
2), Is this distinctly feminine?
3), Will this item attract undue attention?
My answer as to why I wear dresses only has changed over
time. At first, I would have answered, "Because that's
modest." But here are the reasons that God has placed
on my heart:
1) I've found that the way I dress directly affects my spirit.
It is so much easier to have a quiet, meek spirit when I'm
wearing a skirt or dress. I think this is related to the
second reason...
2) Because it's feminine! God created us as young women,
and it's something we should be excited about! When I'm wearing
a skirt or dress, I truly feel like a lady.
3) Yes, I do believe that it's the most modest way for me
to dress. A friend of mine once told me that when she is
deciding over her clothing, she asks herself, "Will
this cause my brothers in Christ to fall or be tempted?" I
think that's a wonderful way to look at it.
I hope this has been of some help to you! Oh, and about
mowing the lawn, try wearing a fuller skirt with lighter
fabric. Even though they aren't real stylish now, full skirts
are much more practical for home work!
A young lady
Too be honest with you girls I have just quit wearing pants
within the last month. I guess my top too reasons are because
I strongly feel that this is what God is asking me to do,
and I feel beautiful in them, I feel like a lady. A young
woman of God, which is what I am working on being on the
inside, and its starting to show on the outside.
A young lady
You're not alone! Testimonies from homeschooling moms!
We compiled some testimonies from one of our message boards
for homeschooling moms. We hope this will encourage you!
I will share my story with you.
Preface: I grew up in a Christian home & came to Christ
very early but everything seemed to come from a view through
world colored glasses.
Well, the Lord gave me all girls - I have three & they
are now three. After the first year of many, many, many diapers & scheduling & the
like I came up for air to the terrifying reality that God
has given me daughters to raise to be godly women!!! There
I began my quest. I searched the Word over to find just what
God would have me do.
I began asking a few chosen Titus 2 friends who I knew to
be modeling biblical womanhood to their daughters.
An issue I never expected to be apart of this quest was
my outward appearance. Except for a few years of total rebellion & running
from God, I have always thought myself to be a modest dresser
(albeit very stylish). I have always been a tomboy so I had
never embraced my femininity. I have always been proud (& always
encouraged) to be able to keep up with the men in just about
everything from climbing trees for fun to climbing the roof
for repairs to climbing the corporate ladder. I have actually
been proud of my figure & it has always gotten me attention.
Then, I stumbled across an article that astounded me! I
dug & dug into the word & studied it like never before
(plus listened to the SM Davis tape w/dh & he, too was
astounded). I could not believe that I had never fully understood
this subject before! I was mortified to think how I felt
I had grieved the Lord on this for so long. The decision
to follow the Word with my outward appearance was very, very
simple. I just wanted to please my Heavenly Father! So, out
went every pair of pants & on went the few dresses that
I owned (I had worn them occasionally), cold turkey (my girls
wardrobe, too). It has been six months & I now look at
how I dress as a joyful act of worship (& way to honor
my dh). Dresses are actually far more comfortable than any
waist binding, bottom pinching, constricting pants ever can
be. Not that I wore skin tight pants, mind you, but, lets
face facts, jeans just snug you in all over. I feel pretty
liberated by this, as silly as that may sound.
So, needless to say, my trek & this issue, in particular,
have brought to light some subtle, but very ungodly areas
in my life. I am pressing into the Lord more strongly each
day, seeking His forgiveness & His help to press on,
that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also
laid hold of me. Hallelujah, what a Savior!
Has anyone asked me about wearing only dresses? Only one
person - my SIL & I wasn't clever enough to say anything
but the truth that God has been calling me to give some tough
answers to things I have never thought were questions before.
Do I care what anyone thinks about me wearing only dresses?
Not a chance. Not now.
I pray the Lord reveals what He has for you from His word & that
you delight in following after Him in the process. A mom
I have been wearing only dresses for about 2 years. The
year or two before that I would wear them a lot when we left
the house. I have always felt more comfortable in jumper
style dresses than in jeans or slacks. I never did wear shorts
in public as an adult. I grew up in the 70's and early 80's
and can see now how wrong my motives were in wearing tight
jeans. (I would never wear short dresses as a teen even when
they were in style, but my jeans were just as bad!) Back
then I wanted to catch men's eyes, now I know that is a sinful
way to act. I started really looking at a lot of areas in
my life and praying about where I needed to change. I have
not been purposely immodest since I have been married, but
the Lord showed me things in my life that could be seen by
others differently than how I was perceiving myself. I needed
to be different than the world. This has been true in other
areas besides the way I dress. The Lord has been working
in many new ways in my life.
Another reason for my wearing dresses has to do with an
inward attitude. I have not been very submissive in our marriage.
I was always head strong and my dh allowed me to be. I read
about one woman's reason for wearing only dresses that really
spoke to me (either on this site or in one of the magazines
I get). She said that she wear dresses to remind her of who
wears the pants in the family. I have to admit, I still struggle
with this one, but I am getting better!
When I first started wearing dresses two years ago I asked
my dh about it, he didn't care one way or the other. Now,
he thinks that modest dresses are right because they are
not revealing like jeans and T-shirts can be. I have also
noticed that when I am out shopping with the dc or alone
that men treat me with more respect.
The only problem I have had with wearing dresses only is
the wind here can create some quite difficult situations.
Dress past my knees could cause some embarrassing moments.
But I solved that problem this year when I made myself some
new jumpers by making them even longer, down to my ankles.
Now even on the windiest day I don't have to hold my dress
down.
I hope this has been some help for you. I pray that the
Lord will show you what is right for your family.
A mother
"A woman shall not wear anything that pertains to a
man, nor shall a man put on a woman's garment, for all who
do so are an abomination to the Lord your God." Deuteronomy
22:5 (NKJV)
Some people argue that this is from the Old Testament and
so is no longer relevant. However, it does not simply say
that a woman should not wear a man's clothes; it is called
an ABOMINATION. God does not change. What was an abomination
to Him still is.
I agree that this verse deals with cross-dressing! The question
is whether our definition of what constitutes "cross-dressing" is
accurate! In our culture, we will accept a woman dressing
like a man. Much of women's clothing is almost indistinguishable
from a man's. In our culture, it's acceptable for a woman's
clothing to look pretty much like a man's. Yet, most people
are bothered by a man wearing a dress. The Bible calls ANY "cross-dressing" an
abomination.
One reason that many people don't like the idea of a woman
wearing dresses only is because women should be allowed to
wear what a man can wear. Our society does not like to acknowledge
any differences between the sexes, and this thinking has
crept into the church. The Bible is clear, however, in both
the Old and New Testaments, that women and men were created
with different roles.
Some people would say that pants are not something that
pertains only to a man. They are now unisex in the eyes of
most people. But our God has said that there are differences
between the genders, which should be reflected in our clothing.
Dresses/skirts are still seen as distinctly feminine, which
is why someone would be shocked if a man wore them.
It's funny that not that many years ago it was shocking
when feminists pushed for women to be allowed to wear pants.
It's amazing how society's views have changed over the years.
What was once an abomination in society's eyes is now accepted,
along with many other things. Christendom, in general, has
gone down the same path, though a little more slowly.
There is also a modesty issue involved. Women's pants are
often immodest in the way that they cling. Some men's pants
are as well, but this is much more common with women. Women
tend to be more curvaceous, and their pants are designed
to be closer-fitting. Honestly, that is often the only thing
that makes a woman's pants any different from a man's! So,
you can also cause an eye trap for men.
I hope that I do not come across as judgmental. I have not
even been "dresses only" for a year yet. I have
gone through most of the stages that Christians are in with
regard to the issue. Here is the story of how I came to be
dresses only.
The first thing that I was convicted of was the need to
be modest. About a year and a half ago, my husband and I
came to feel that it was immodest to be wearing shorts that
exposed the thigh. I had shorts that were about mid-thigh
at the time. I was also in the early months of pregnancy.
So, I tried to find knee-length shorts in maternity and had
no luck. So, I bought maternity jeans and cut off the legs
and hemmed them.
About the same time, we also came to see that bathing suits
were extremely immodest. You're showing the same amount of
skin whether it's a bathing suit at the beach or a spaghetti
strap top and short skirt at church on Sunday. So, we decided
that I would no longer wear a bathing suit around others.
We visited family in Hawaii, and my husband went swimming
with a T-shirt on top. I sat on the beach. At 5 months pregnant,
my suit wouldn't have fit anyway!
Around that time (still a year and a half ago), we considered
the idea of dresses only. I had come across some articles
dealing with this topic. The main thing that spoke to us
was Deuteronomy 22:5. "A woman shall not wear anything
that pertains to a man, nor shall a man put on a woman's
garment, for all who do so are an abomination to the Lord
your God."
I left the decision up to my husband, and he said that he
felt pants were okay. He felt that they were now culturally
accepted as being okay for females to wear. So, I could wear
them too. That's about how I felt, so I wasn't too bothered
about the decision. Neither one of us was ready to be that
different and didn't seek the Lord very earnestly about it.
We were wanting to be convinced that pants were okay.
Then, a year ago, I became dresses only. This was 6 months
after my husband's previous decision. We discussed it again
and came to a very different conclusion.
We decided that dresses/skirts are still seen as distinctly
feminine. Pants are now in the "unisex" category,
though historically they have been seen as men's clothing
in the Western world. We were no longer comfortable with
my dressing in clothing that was not distinctly feminine.
Wearing dresses/skirts all the time makes a few things clear
immediately. It makes it clear that we are feminine and proud
of it. Many people can share stories of people coming up
to them and their family (especially with many daughters
in dresses) and saying that they must be Christians. It strengthens
our claims that men and women are different when we recognize
that in our dress, as opposed to dressing to look like a
man.
I have been dresses only for just over a year now. At this
point, I wouldn't feel comfortable stepping outside my front
door for a minute wearing a pair of pants. I have become
very used to my new clothes. I have found that I can also
do just about anything in them. I've shoveled deep snow,
raked leaves, and carried heavy boxes when moving among other
things all with an ankle-length skirt.
I do tend to look a little dressier than I did before. Most
women when they wear something remotely feminine tend to
look dressed up in this day and age, because it's not too
common. I tend to wear a plain blue skirt (sort of like I
would a denim skirt) with various tops or a flower print
skirt with solid top for everyday. I enjoy looking feminine,
and my husband enjoys it as well.
A mother
I have been a believer for over 20 years. We have always
tried to look to the Lord for wisdom and guidance whenever
a situation comes up where we need direction. The one area
where I have always struggled in was the area of dresses
only. My husband did not insist on my wearing dresses all
the time. I was always much more conservative than my friends
and I thought that I was "modest" enough. I usually
avoided getting into this controversial issue because I know
how divisive it can be.
Over a year ago, my daughter Kristin (12 at the time) came
to me with the scripture from Deuteronomy 22:5 "A woman
shall not wear man's clothing nor shall a man put on a woman's
clothing; for whoever does these things is an abomination
to the Lord your God". She looked up abomination which
means "showing extreme hatred for". She felt very
strongly that her clothing did not come into line with God
was showing her in the scriptures. How convicting for me.
We discussed some of the things she had in her closet. They
did not meet the new criteria God had shown her. We removed
some items from her wardrobe but to be perfectly honest I
did not want to change and did not share her deeper conviction.
What a mistake.
Over the next year we both began to slip back into our old
dressing habits. In late August, a young lady came to our
home to demonstrate some cutlery. As she walked up the walkway,
her attire was most inappropriate. Knowing that the appointment
was going to be a little long and that my husband was due
home any time I asked her if she would mind going home to
change and put on something more appropriate. (She had a
Victorian era corset for a top, a slip for a skirt, etc.)
She left. I did not think she was going to return. After
she left, God began to speak to me and let me know that my
attire was just as offensive in HIS eyes as hers was to me.
What conviction. I immediately recalled the incident with
my daughter over a year ago and felt so convicted. Realizing
my error, I decided to examine more closely what the scripture
says and OBEY it. Something I should have done along time
ago.
Surprisingly, the lady came back and had changed. How humbling
for me. Here I was a complete stranger and she was willing
to change to accommodate me. How much more should I be willing
to change when asked by the living God?
After a study of the scriptures I determined to completely
alter my wardrobe as well as that of my daughters. I began
with my daughter who was now (13 1/2) and went an explained
what God had shown me. She was happy but a little reluctant
to completely jump in again. She said that when she came
to me a year ago I had convinced her that it wasn't necessary.
How convicting. My mistake coming back again. I repented
to her and asked her forgiveness for disobeying the word
of God and HIS work in her life. We began to study the scriptures
together on this issue. She still wanted to obey the scriptures
but was finding it a lot more difficult this time around.
Thankfully, she did not take very long. Within a week or
so, she was on board and helping me work with the younger
girls on their wardrobe.
This has been a great benefit to our relationship. My daughter
realized thru this that her friendships were taking a higher
priority in her decisions that she realized. She recognized
that God must be her first source of direction and not others.
We are very cautious about friendships with our children
and I would never have guessed that this was happening.
I am thankful also that God was able to get a hold of my
heart. I must admit I struggled with the same issues as well.
Not many people in my circle share this conviction and that
was part of my struggle. I was humbled by my daughter's ability
to see what God was saying and obey much more quickly than
I was.
God needs to be our source of wisdom and instruction. I
desire my house to be built in accordance to the scripture
from Proverbs 24 which says "by wisdom a house is built,
and by understanding it is established; And by knowledge
the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches."
I am grateful to the Lord for HIS wisdom and direction which
gave my daughter understanding so that HE could get to my
heart.
A mother
Up until the time I met my husband 14 13½ years ago,
I wore pants and dresses. When I met my hubby and we started "seeing
each other", he said that he would prefer it if I didn't
wear pants. I never wore another pair of pants again and
got rid of them all. I was wearing dresses every day anyway
as I was a legal secretary (so Saturday was really the only
day I would wear pants). We married exactly 6 months from
the day we met (our 13th anniversary is next month!). I have
not put on a pair of pants in those 13+ years and I do not
own any. I am so pleased to have two daughters to dress in
dresses. They both love to wear dresses and skirts. I just
pulled out my skirts and dresses from my skinny days and
some of them fit my oldest daughter for which I am so thrilled
as it was so hard to find clothes for her.
I can honestly say that when I first started being "dresses
only" over 13 years ago that it was not a personal conviction,
just doing it to please my hubby. I can now say that it is
a personal conviction of mine. I cannot really say exactly
when the transition happened, but I love being feminine and
looking like a lady!
A mother
Well, I have slowly been making this switch. I have to say
that until I started coming to this site, I was dresses at
church events only. I loved my jeans. My dh loved me in my
jeans.
However, over the past year we would discuss something that
one of you here would post. While I was on bed rest this
past spring I ordered Dr. Davis' tape on modest clothing.
INSIGHTFUL! I then became dresses only outside of the house.
This fall, I had started feeling as though I am a bad testimony
to God when I check the mail (across the street) or answer
the door in jeans. I actually stopped checking the mail & coming
to the door if I was wearing pants. Funny though it may seem
I would verbally beat myself up over wearing pants & what
kind of message I was sending.
I had decided that when the last of my jeans got a hole
that needed to be dealt with then the pants would get tossed.
That was the day I read the post by a lady on the message
board. When I had sat down I couldn't even feel the hole.
When I stood up it was more than an inch across. That was
it, I got up & tossed all the pants I had.
BTW, I started my dd out as dresses only from the day she
was born. She won't have the same issues with her attire
that I do. AT least that is my goal.
As a side note, those who are thinking about changing your
wardrobe to dresses only here are some interesting things
I have noticed.
*Men look at my face, NOT my chest
*My Dh & my DS tell me how pretty I look (so did an elderly
guy at church)
*I have more room to maneuver while being modest doing so
*I feel like a Lady, not just a woman, but an old fashioned
LADY
*People are more willing to help me when I am in a dress
*People take me more seriously in a dress
Those are all reasons enough that I would not want my dd
to wear pants. The most important reason of all is that dresses
please God!
--A mother
http://www.preparingdaughters.com/
modest-articles-and-testimonies.php
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