Dear Mothers, Daughters, Sisters, and Friends…(basically yes, I’m talking to you),
Hello, my name is Nicole, and you probably do not know who I am. I’m a thirty-something wife, mother, and child of God. No matter who you are, I want to let you know that you are incredibly special, loved, and cherished by my Heavenly Father. He created you, and loves you so very much. He formed your inner most parts and knows you by name. If you are not already His, He longs for you to be His daughter. If you are virtuous, He has put your worth above rubies.
Although I do not know if or how you celebrate Halloween, I do realize that it is right around the corner. I’ve received costume magazines in the mail, and have seen the same in stores. Dear friends, have you seen these costumes? They leave so very little to the imagination. Sure, they might seem “cute,” but where did the rest of the fabric go?
I understand that Halloween is one of the only chances most have to wear such clothing. Dressing this way might seem thrilling to housewives, teenagers, and everyone in between. The opportunity to openly dress in such a sexual manner doesn’t usually present itself. You might be thinking, “Here is my chance!”
Believe me, I understand. I was once a teenager who choose to dress up in such clothing. I have been a housewife who longed to feel more “attractive.” In the end I discovered that I was looking for attention in all of the wrong places. The notice that you receive while wearing this attire is actually ugly and distorted. Please do not succumb to that. You are precious, and are your virtue is of the highest value imaginable!
Men are visual creatures, and all of your guy friends at that Halloween party you plan to attend will likely have a vision of you in costume burned into their memory. From here on out, when they look at you, that is what they will see. You are so much more than a body! You are not an object. That clothing makes you appear cheap, and your worth is so much more than that.
If you are a teenager or are unmarried, I know you probably would like to catch a certain guy’s eye on Halloween, but trust me when I say that this isn’t how to do it! Any guy that pays attention to you while you are half dressed isn’t worth your time. You need a guy who is interested in you, and not your body. A guy that desires for you to retain your honor above all else. These men might be few and far between, but they are out there looking for a girl with dignity. Let that girl with dignity be you.
If you are a mother, little eyes are watching you. Your children want to be just like you! We should keep that in mind every day of the year, no exceptions. If your husband asks you to dress up, then privacy is in order.
Sure, it can be hard to swim against the crowd, but I know you can do it. Think hard about your costume choices, and before all else pray about them. I will be praying for you too.
Your friend,
Nicole
Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
Proverbs 31:10
Image Credit Above
This was so beautifully written! I love that verse. I am seeing so many things in a different light as my faith walk grows closer in step with the Lord. I love your blog and your outlook on the way our lives should be <3 Thank you
I really like the idea of focusing on fun themes for costumes (specific historical periods, classic novels, hey, even types of vegetables…) because that can help the costumers dress with a purpose other than to attract attention to themselves.
This is a much needed message… some of the girls wearing these skimpy things are “good girls” from “good homes” and you just have to wonder if they really thought through the effects of their choices on those around them… for some men who truly struggle to remain pure after a battle with pornography or other sexual addictions, these girls/women could easily be the trigger that sets off a new round of internal battles for a man desperately trying to remain pure! What responsibility we have to those around us!
Great article! I can’t believe the way that women’s costumes are made for Halloween!! They make every woman/girl look like a cheap sex object. It’s demeaning and offensive. Our family has chosen to dress as saints this year. It was really fun to look through the lists and find ones that we liked. My kids weren’t too excited until they learned about all the saints that soldiers and knights and princesses. lol- Maybe it will become our family tradition.
Here, here! I am dressing up like a cowgirl – hat, western shirt, jeans and boots – I will be fully dressed and representing a strong female role model. My little girls (Kindergarten & 3rd grade) are very aware of what the little one calls “too much skin showing out”.
Once in college, I wore a costume that was too revealing and the leers were pretty gross. The funny part was when I changed into a T-shirt and sweats, the very same guys that were trying to pick up on me were actually having a decent conversation with me once I changed clothes – and it soon became apparent that they didn’t realize I was the same girl. It made a real impact on me to realize that the way I was treated was directly related to my choice of clothing.
Keep up the good work!
Eugh. I dislike the catalogs with the badly dressed costumes meant for something less innocent than what the initial name is. In the city, we get a bunch of women dressed this way, and I tell them that they should dress with dignity and feel beautiful about themselves, and dress for the Lord, not for men. This doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be dressed nicely, it just means less skin, and feeling pretty, not “sexy”. Some thank me and take a tract or say something nice, others get a bit mad and storm away. It’s all about dressing for God, others, and yourself,