Sunday, June 12, 2011

My War on Cleavage!

Okay ladies. This post is for you (but guys are welcome to read it too). I am not being a prude or a stick in the mud, but there's something I've wanted to say for a while now. And after reading a Facebook post on a similar thought yesterday, I decided I'm just gonna lay it out there and be completely honest. Here goes:

I AM SICK OF SEEING YOUR CLEAVAGE!!!!!

I really am.

As a wife.
As a mother of sons.
As a Christian who believes in modesty.

Let me explain those three points.

As a wife, my body is the only one I want my husband to admire. I'm not selfish. I'm not even jealous. It's just that God created my body for my husband's pleasure--viewing and otherwise--and vice versa. 1 Corinthians 7:4 says:

"The wife's body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband's body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife."

Verse five goes on to say: "Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control."

Now, I'll be the first to admit that my body is not the body of a super model. I am not the 22-year-old my husband fell in love with. Everyone ages. Everyone puts on pounds here and there. A woman's body changes with pregnancy and childbirth. But you know what? None of that matters. A husband vows to stay only unto his wife. Period.

But when you ladies with...ahem....attributes leave 'em out there for all the world to see, even good husbands have a hard time keeping their eyes on your face. Your husband, not mine, should be the only one looking at your chest. Heck, even I have a hard time not gawking when a woman with a big chest and a low-cut top bends over. "Good grief!" I want to shout. "Cover 'em up!"

As the mother of two young men ages 20 and 18, I have absolutely had it with women--young and old--flaunting their boobs, thong straps, short shorts and nothing-there-bathing-suits at my boys!!! >:[ How is a young man these days supposed to keep his thoughts about women pure and respectful when you're showing him just about everything you've got for free?!

We all know that, generally, men are more visually stimulated than women. That's why we go to the trouble to look nice, wear make-up, yada, yada. But ladies!! Do you not understand what happens to a man when he sees boobs, thong straps, short shorts and nothing-there-bathing-suits???? Are you truly that naive??? And if your goal is to cause those thoughts in a man, please keep reading!

It's especially annoying to me when Christian girls and women dress inappropriately. Worldly. I am all for staying in style, looking nice and attractive, but if I had a daughter there is NO WAY I'd let her purchase, let alone wear, some of the stuff I see at church and elsewhere.

The Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 2:9: "I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety..."

Girls...Ladies...here is the bottom line. When you dress in a manner that causes a man to think thoughts he shouldn't be thinking, you are causing him to sin. Jesus said in Matthew 5:28: "But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart."

Yes, the man (or woman, if she's the one looking) is responsible for their own eyes and what they look at. But these days you can't go to the mall or the beach or turn on the TV without boobs and skimpily-clad women assaulting your vision!

So, please, please, please...be aware of the 3 B's: Boobs, butts, and bellies. Think before you put on that low-cut top or pair of shorts that show your cheeks. If you're married, save it for your husband! If you're not, save it for your future husband!!

This is one time we are asking you NOT to share!!

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Another site you may want to visit is Modeling Christ. Professional model Rachel Lee Carter is an advocate for modesty.

14 comments:

Paula Scott Bicknell said...

Love this post! Thank you for sharing what the Bible says about this... Hugs my friend...

Michelle Shocklee said...

Agree, Chrys!! They look absurd!

Thanks, Paula! As the mom of 5 precious boys, I know you know what I mean!

Hugs to you both!!
~Michelle

Marilyn Tucker said...

Michelle - I couldn't have said it better myself!! As a mom of 3 boys, this is extremely frustrating for me, too! The one that continues to surprise me is what girls/women wear to CHURCH! Is nothing sacred?! But, I guess the church's motto is "Come just as you are" and they do! I wish we could go back a few decades and re-learn etiquette, manners and just plain common sense again! Preach it, sister!

Michelle Shocklee said...

Thanks, Marilyn. I think this topic especially resonates with us mom's of boys! Trying to raise Godly young men these days is tough!

Kim said...

Also, as the mother of 2 teen girls, it's maddening to go into store after store trying on clothes only to have EVERYTHING, just about, low, low cut! Let's not even get me going on trying to find a swimsuit!!

Michelle Shocklee said...

Kim,
Thanks for posting a comment. I can only imagine how difficult it is to shop for young women these days. I don't think many teenage girls and young women truly understand what skimpy clothing do to a young man--or an old man (yuck!)!
Blessings as your raise your daughters to be good girls!
~Michelle Shocklee

Rachel said...

Good for you! Love this post. :) What can ya do...at least we don't live in Europe where women go completely topless. I remember being so surprised and ANNOYED at that when I went to Spain. LOL

Michelle Shocklee said...

You're so right, Rachel! Some folks think we Americans just need to get over it, but even all the way back in Genesis 3:10 people--Adam and Eve specifically--felt their nakedness shouldn't be flaunted about. 'Course that was after the fall, etc. Still, I personally would rather not see everyones "stuff" flopping around in the wind! ;)
Love & hugs to you!

Jennifer Taylor said...

Awesome post! Just had a little talk with my 13 year old daughter this weekend when we went shopping for shorts.

Michelle Shocklee said...

Thanks, Jennifer! The world needs more Mom's who have that talk with their girls--and boys!
Blessings,
~Michelle

Visits With Mary said...

Very well said and I completely agree..! This is my first visit to your blog and I think it was a good day to drop by...See ya' again soon. Mary
www.visitswithmary.blogspot.com

Michelle Shocklee said...

Thanks for your comment, Mary, and for stopping in! I love your "About Me" blurb on your blog. Truly beautiful.
Blessings,
~Michelle Shocklee

Anonymous said...

We truly live in a fallen world. I see it everywhere, and the saddest part is when I see my sister-in-law (husband's brother's wife). She is very pretty, but makes it crappy by wearing low cut tops. Thanks for being a loyal believer in God and His bible.

Michelle Shocklee said...

Thanks for visiting the blog and leaving a comment! Another site you might be interested in visiting is http://www.modeling-christ.com/. Professional model Rachel Lee Carter is an advocate for modesty.
Blessings,
~Michelle Shocklee