The Dress Code:

I have been contemplating this writing for several weeks now.  Everyone knows I love to write but I only write about something when I cannot stop thinking about it.  I was thinking about the way people dress and what it says about that person.  We have heard the saying “you can put lipstick on a pig, but its still a pig”.  This is how I feel about the way people dress.  It has taken me a long time to realize that the way someone dresses really doesn’t tell us anything about that person on the inside.  I know this because I have had friends and family with many types of styles, including different styles that I have had over the years. 

The term dressing modestly appears often on my Facebook page.  I have some Christian friends and family that believe this means women wearing dresses and skirts and men wearing only slacks.  I have always believed the same thing and have been on both sides of the fence.  I can respect that, what I have trouble with is those who ride the fence.  What I mean by that is those who dress a certain way to portray their modesty and Christianity, but inside they are vindictive, mean, gossipy, judgmental, and many times unforgiving.  Oh, they will claim they are not.  They will claim they don’t have to associate with you but they will pray for you.  They will post the most precious scriptures on their Facebook page about not judging and forgiving others.  I know because I am guilty of being part of that group in the past.  Then you have those who claim no religion but claim to be good people and profess that God loves them just the way they are.  I don’t have a problem with that either, until their actions say otherwise.  They pick and choose whom they want to be good to.  They forgive only who they want to forgive.  They believe some things are unforgiveable as if they have never done anything wrong in their lives or anything they are ashamed of.  Maybe they have not.  Maybe they are justified in the way they feel, and that is their business and no one has to answer for them, except them. 

Do you know how difficult it is for someone who wants to please God and do good for others, to see how others claim the very same thing and yet they never think of anyone but themselves?  If you ever want to see just how much goodness a Christian truly has, just cross them.  Just disappoint them.  Just be sick or going through something awful and see if those very people pick up a phone to call you or stop by to see you.  I once had a Christian criticize me for posting a picture of my daughter that they felt was inappropriate.  They proceeded to tell me I was not setting a good example for my friends on Facebook who were Christians.  What they failed to understand or see is that my daughter may dress differently than they do, she may have tattoos that they think are trashy, but she is the most loving and forgiving person I know.  She has truly, more than once, forgiven the unforgiveable.  It doesn’t always matter what you see on the outside.  You may see the most humble acting, modestly dressed, longhaired quiet person and think ‘what a sweet loving Christian she is’.  But it’s possible that behind closed doors, she is miserable.  She is vindictive, she likes to gossip and she looks down her nose at others who dress differently than she does.  So which type would you rather be around?  Someone who “what you see is what you get”, and has an amazing attitude, or that sweet humble little Christian girl or that group of “Christian sisters” who won’t give you the time of day because you are not in their click. 

I will be honest with you, I don’t care what you wear, how you wear your hair or how you live your life, I can still find a place in my heart to love you.  I will still be there if you need help or if you need me just to listen to you.  I will do this no matter how many times you have hurt me or disappointed me.  I don’t feel this way because I am better than you I feel this way because that is who I am.  I don’t know how to be any other way.  There are some of you who are reading this right now who are laughing at me, ridiculing me, and doubting my intentions and that’s okay, because I will never again allow someone else, some organization, some group to convince me that I am not a good person and worthy of all that God has to offer.