Girl Matters

Have you ever heard of the "burkini?" I just discovered this new type of swimwear today and thought that it was such an interesting concept. It is for Muslim women who have chosen the veil and are committed to presenting themselves to the world with modesty. For Muslim women who live in countries surrounded by water, they have very few options for what they can wear when they swim. Often it is a hazard to swim in their reguluar cotton clothing and the option of showing skin goes against their principles. In response to this need, a line of swimwear called the "burkini" was created. You can read more about it here.

This just made me consider what principles I utilize and whether they affect every decision I make. Not that I will be wearing the "burkini" anytime soon, though I would consider for alternative reasons such as it being more forgiving than the bikini. But the principle behind it highlights how much some women in the world prize modesty as a virtue of their femininity. Has modesty become an archaic virtue in our generation today? Have we become too desensitized to how we present ourselves to the world? This was a challenging thought for me this morning as I read the article. The heart behind modesty is the desire to honor our brothers in the Body and to allow our character to be the main focus, not what we wear and what we don't wear. What we wear on the outside should only enhance that.

Finally, if there are any brothers out there who are reading this article, encourage the women in your smallgroups and affirm them for who they are and how they strive to be women of God. Most women are all too aware when they are getting "negative" attention from a guy - yeah, we see those traveling eyes. So please, covenant with God, your fellow brothers in Christ and yourself to keep your eyes from sinning and bless the women of the church by recognizing their God-given value and the beauty that comes from being a virtuous woman.