Our family (kids and grandkids- 13 in number) was enjoying a
few days in the mountains, so of course the” girls” had to have a couple of
hours shopping in the small village. My granddaughter, Sydney, age fourteen, had been looking for a
dress for her school’s spring dance and we found one in a small dress shop that
we thought might fit the bill but we had no time for her to try it on.
The next day we returned to the village to enjoy lunch in a
local restaurant. Afterwards we once again passed the dress shop and, we had
the time, so Sydney went in and tried the dress on. There is a saying that the
clothes make a man. Of course we know that isn’t always true but at that
moment, when I saw her emerge from the dressing room, I was reminded once again
that clothes indeed speak volumes. The message in that dress was simply
beautiful and feminine and innocent and in it, she literally took my breath
away!
Years ago my husband coined an expression that has stuck
with me as I clothed my daughters when they were young and also now look for
clothes for myself. It is “purely alluring” and it seems to fit perfectly with
God’s idea of His well dressed daughters.
Purity speaks of wearing nothing that would be a stumbling block to
others. It is part of the sign that says
my body is sacred, a temple of God, a daughter of the King. But then the way we dress should be
attractive, alluring to others, in fact it appears that the Proverbs 31 woman
dressed beautifully. Alluring says that we wear nothing that is offensive
and yet because of what we wear, people
will be initially drawn to us. Attractive dress does…well…attract.
Sydney’s dress was once again a good reminder for me. Beauty and modesty go hand in hand and complement
one another. I have several more
granddaughters and many more proms and special occasions where beautiful
dresses will be chosen. I am looking
forward to each one of them “taking my breath away” by being purely alluring!
Psalm 45:13
The King’s daughter
is all glorious within;
Her clothing is
interwoven with gold.