Comments on: The Reflection of Femininity http://ylcf.org/2010/07/the-reflection-of-femininity/ YLCF Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:52:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Kelley http://ylcf.org/2010/07/the-reflection-of-femininity/#comment-11873 Kelley Tue, 20 Jul 2010 08:20:33 +0000 http://ylcf.org/?p=5063#comment-11873 Well said, darlin'. Well said, darlin’.

]]> By: Embracing Femininity | Young Ladies Christian Fellowship http://ylcf.org/2010/07/the-reflection-of-femininity/#comment-11868 Embracing Femininity | Young Ladies Christian Fellowship Mon, 19 Jul 2010 14:01:46 +0000 http://ylcf.org/?p=5063#comment-11868 [...] Something Gretchen wrote recently put a new twist into my thoughts: Femininity is not something you can put on, but rather a reflection of an inner beauty. [...] [...] Something Gretchen wrote recently put a new twist into my thoughts: Femininity is not something you can put on, but rather a reflection of an inner beauty. [...]

]]> By: Ruth Wiechmann http://ylcf.org/2010/07/the-reflection-of-femininity/#comment-11844 Ruth Wiechmann Thu, 15 Jul 2010 01:56:00 +0000 http://ylcf.org/?p=5063#comment-11844 Been there, done that... The skirts only phase didn't last too long---my farmer Daddy didn't want me getting wrapped up in a PTO shaft or some such. And climbing up into a tractor in a skirt in windy South Dakota can be less than modest. :-) I had to smile over the recollection this afternoon as I climbed carefully into the tractor wearing a skirt---it is possible to do a lot in a dress. But a skirt isn't necessary to being a woman, or being Godly, or being feminine. As you said, it's more about whom I'm trying to please---my God and my husband, or else the world or some false selfish pride. Thanks, Gretchen! Been there, done that… The skirts only phase didn’t last too long—my farmer Daddy didn’t want me getting wrapped up in a PTO shaft or some such. And climbing up into a tractor in a skirt in windy South Dakota can be less than modest. :-) I had to smile over the recollection this afternoon as I climbed carefully into the tractor wearing a skirt—it is possible to do a lot in a dress. But a skirt isn’t necessary to being a woman, or being Godly, or being feminine. As you said, it’s more about whom I’m trying to please—my God and my husband, or else the world or some false selfish pride.
Thanks, Gretchen!

]]> By: Gretchen http://ylcf.org/2010/07/the-reflection-of-femininity/#comment-11837 Gretchen Tue, 13 Jul 2010 20:05:18 +0000 http://ylcf.org/?p=5063#comment-11837 Amen to that, Joanna! Great perspective. Amen to that, Joanna! Great perspective.

]]> By: Joanna http://ylcf.org/2010/07/the-reflection-of-femininity/#comment-11836 Joanna Tue, 13 Jul 2010 19:51:49 +0000 http://ylcf.org/?p=5063#comment-11836 Excellent post, Gretchen! It is sad that 'good' Christian girls are so often characterized by their ill-fitting, drab colored clothing - and for what purpose? How does ugliness or frumpiness glorify our beautiful, holy, creative God? Isn't He the One who created beauty? With any standard that we set for ourselves, comes the temptation to self-righteousness, and that has been clearly evident in my life, time and time again. I don't wear 'those kind of shoes' (for example), therefore, in my heart I look down on and condemn people who do. Pride creeps in, and my standard becomes a corrupted thing, used only to stroke my own self-esteem, and tear down fellow Christians. However, like everything else in life, this subject needs some balance. As Christians, we need to be careful not to react to our mistakes, and swing in the opposite direction, but instead to seek God's face and find out what HE says on the subject. Is it wrong to have standards? No. I honestly believe standards are a necessity of life. We all have limitations we set for ourselves (people who have no limits are miserable). We have a time we wake up in the morning, a certain kind of movie we won't watch, words we won't say, attitudes we refuse to indulge in. Standards are good. To treat them like the bad guy is to ignore the real issue. The problem was never our standards, in the first place! It was the condition of our hearts, and even if we eliminate the standard, the problem is essentially still there. So instead of becoming one of those "I wear skirts and you don't, therefore you must be wrong" kind of people, we become the "I've learned to let go of my standards, and you haven't, therefore you must be wrong" type. Same thing. Just a different side of the coin. What we need to do, as young ladies, is to humble ourselves before God, and let Him give us a 'make-over' in our hearts. Then we can focus on those faulty (sometimes silly) outward standards, and ask ourselves the serious question, "Does my appearance truly give GOD the glory? Or does it seek to emphasis ME in any way? MY body? MY hair? MY spirituality?" Excellent post, Gretchen! It is sad that ‘good’ Christian girls are so often characterized by their ill-fitting, drab colored clothing – and for what purpose? How does ugliness or frumpiness glorify our beautiful, holy, creative God? Isn’t He the One who created beauty?

With any standard that we set for ourselves, comes the temptation to self-righteousness, and that has been clearly evident in my life, time and time again. I don’t wear ‘those kind of shoes’ (for example), therefore, in my heart I look down on and condemn people who do. Pride creeps in, and my standard becomes a corrupted thing, used only to stroke my own self-esteem, and tear down fellow Christians.

However, like everything else in life, this subject needs some balance. As Christians, we need to be careful not to react to our mistakes, and swing in the opposite direction, but instead to seek God’s face and find out what HE says on the subject. Is it wrong to have standards? No. I honestly believe standards are a necessity of life. We all have limitations we set for ourselves (people who have no limits are miserable). We have a time we wake up in the morning, a certain kind of movie we won’t watch, words we won’t say, attitudes we refuse to indulge in. Standards are good. To treat them like the bad guy is to ignore the real issue. The problem was never our standards, in the first place! It was the condition of our hearts, and even if we eliminate the standard, the problem is essentially still there. So instead of becoming one of those “I wear skirts and you don’t, therefore you must be wrong” kind of people, we become the “I’ve learned to let go of my standards, and you haven’t, therefore you must be wrong” type. Same thing. Just a different side of the coin. What we need to do, as young ladies, is to humble ourselves before God, and let Him give us a ‘make-over’ in our hearts. Then we can focus on those faulty (sometimes silly) outward standards, and ask ourselves the serious question, “Does my appearance truly give GOD the glory? Or does it seek to emphasis ME in any way? MY body? MY hair? MY spirituality?”

]]> By: Robin Spencer http://ylcf.org/2010/07/the-reflection-of-femininity/#comment-11834 Robin Spencer Tue, 13 Jul 2010 17:01:40 +0000 http://ylcf.org/?p=5063#comment-11834 It is easy to look so closely at sin and forget God's original intent. Why were women given particular attributes not given to men? As Christians,we often reserve all femininity for marriage enjoyment only. Does it have no purpose outside of marriage? I recently read the book "For Women Only". In the book it does talk about why our modesty is important for the Godliness of men. At the same time it describes how important a wifes appearance (loveliness) is to her husbands reputation. Your loveliness reflects on his worthiness and others will judge him based on your outward appearance and inner character. I remember when I was back in highschool, several of my male friends said they would much rather see a girl all dressed up than in a bikinni. I think the devil wants to trip us up one way or another if we choose not to believe the worlds lie of sex appeal, then he will offer us another one. I believe christian women can use their feminine loveliness to build up the men around them. Not all women will become married, but we are all accountable for how we used the gifts God gave us. And as far as pride, when we look at other women who may not yet understand God's design for them, we can say "except by the grace of God that would be me". It is easy to look so closely at sin and forget God’s original intent. Why were women given particular attributes not given to men? As Christians,we often reserve all femininity for marriage enjoyment only. Does it have no purpose outside of marriage? I recently read the book “For Women Only”. In the book it does talk about why our modesty is important for the Godliness of men. At the same time it describes how important a wifes appearance (loveliness) is to her husbands reputation. Your loveliness reflects on his worthiness and others will judge him based on your outward appearance and inner character. I remember when I was back in highschool, several of my male friends said they would much rather see a girl all dressed up than in a bikinni. I think the devil wants to trip us up one way or another if we choose not to believe the worlds lie of sex appeal, then he will offer us another one. I believe christian women can use their feminine loveliness to build up the men around them. Not all women will become married, but we are all accountable for how we used the gifts God gave us. And as far as pride, when we look at other women who may not yet understand God’s design for them, we can say “except by the grace of God that would be me”.

]]> By: Ruth http://ylcf.org/2010/07/the-reflection-of-femininity/#comment-11833 Ruth Tue, 13 Jul 2010 12:20:53 +0000 http://ylcf.org/?p=5063#comment-11833 Thanks for this. I went through a stage like this - except in the opposite way... I went through a stage where I absolutely hated skirts and dresses (though my parents insisted we wear them for church). Years later, I hardly wear trousers anymore (except for hikes, exercise etc).. in fact, I prefer skirts. It's funny how we can change our outlook on things! Thanks for this. I went through a stage like this – except in the opposite way… I went through a stage where I absolutely hated skirts and dresses (though my parents insisted we wear them for church). Years later, I hardly wear trousers anymore (except for hikes, exercise etc).. in fact, I prefer skirts. It’s funny how we can change our outlook on things!

]]> By: Clare http://ylcf.org/2010/07/the-reflection-of-femininity/#comment-11832 Clare Tue, 13 Jul 2010 04:41:06 +0000 http://ylcf.org/?p=5063#comment-11832 Great post, Gretchen. Femininity is really about so much more than a dress-code, because in the end things such as dress are material things. They can be taken from us at any moment. Women such as Edith Stein might have been stripped of exteriors in Auschwitz, but their femininity was something that came from their being. If it is the essence of what we are as women, that it transcends the incidentals such as a particular kind of clothing. Great post, Gretchen. Femininity is really about so much more than a dress-code, because in the end things such as dress are material things. They can be taken from us at any moment. Women such as Edith Stein might have been stripped of exteriors in Auschwitz, but their femininity was something that came from their being. If it is the essence of what we are as women, that it transcends the incidentals such as a particular kind of clothing.

]]> By: Melinda http://ylcf.org/2010/07/the-reflection-of-femininity/#comment-11829 Melinda Mon, 12 Jul 2010 23:19:35 +0000 http://ylcf.org/?p=5063#comment-11829 Amen!! Thanks for sharing this, Gretchen. It is so true! I went through the very same peer pressure. And I am very grateful God has shown me that femininity and modesty is so much more than something you wear and a strict dress code. I struggled for years to fit in and look so 'modest' yet totally frumpy. I see the exact same thing, rules and pride in our "righteous attire." (I was there too!). I thank God for a lovely Mom who portrays godly femininity and beauty who has been an amazing example to me. Blessings! Amen!! Thanks for sharing this, Gretchen. It is so true!

I went through the very same peer pressure. And I am very grateful God has shown me that femininity and modesty is so much more than something you wear and a strict dress code. I struggled for years to fit in and look so ‘modest’ yet totally frumpy.

I see the exact same thing, rules and pride in our “righteous attire.” (I was there too!). I thank God for a lovely Mom who portrays godly femininity and beauty who has been an amazing example to me.

Blessings!

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