A Lion in Sheperds clothing

Last week,as a part of the Lions Club of Seeley Lake, we had a health fair here in town. It was a conglomeration of many of the clinics, and health care "experts", chiropractors, massage therapists, Hospice directors, and others that are here to help us take care of ourselves. There was a light lunch for us volunteers. I was helping with the eye screenings. We had a fairly old screening machine. It has an on/off switch,(which is most helpful in the ON direction, as we soon discovered!), a test switch; numbered 1-7,(depending the age of the person and what you were testing for), a far and near switch and a L or R or both toggle switch. And we had to test whomever came over, young or old. As I sat there, in my tee shirt, jean skirt, little shirt over it, for warmth and modesty and my headcovering, a bandana in green and brown camo(hey! its hunting season, you know!!!), I wondered about how to be modest in an immodest environment. Not that this was by any stretch far out, or immodest in the true sense of the word, but as you will see, modesty is more than what you are wearing...and I was now in an environment with men and women, my peers, children, and teens, and I wanted to help my new Lion club member friends, as well as serve the public. I am a fairly gregarious, and can be somewhat overly friendly individual. (not in a bad way, but just very "tuned in to others", shall we say... It takes me a moment sometimes, to re-think, what I was about to say, that might have sounded "not quite right", or sometimes I need to "back off" my friendliness. I am a hugger and I have tried to be very careful to not hug male persons that are not in my family. I have expanded that to hugggin of very, very dear family/friends(only). I have to watch my actions, not to shake a hand very long, not to hug too tightly, not to look at someone too long, if even at all, not to be too friendly with the person at the next booth or whatever. One, I am a married woman, and a Christian woman serving Christ. I want him to be proud of all I do and say. All of these things are a part of modesty that we may not think about. We may think, oh I'm covered in these baggy clothes and a head covering, I'm good, I can act any way I want. But the interesting thing about the covering, when you cover for religious reasons, as a Christian, I find that my mind and body do just the opposite of what you might think. It helps me to remember to see if my skirt is down over my legs, and to make sure my "top" isn't down, when I'm NOT in a convertible! It helps me remember what to or not to say, when to or not to say it, when to keep my BIG MOUTH closed, when to smile and how to smile, not to look cheesy, (as in doesn't care) or not to look too "friendly", (as in, I'm more interested in this conversation, so let's get coffee sometime). You would be surprised what I have been accused of when nothing could be farther from the truth!! Also, because of my Hard of Hearing issues, I have a tendency to really "look" at ones face, and read their lips and facial cues. I have been accused of "flirting" when I was just trying to "HEAR" what someone said. you would be amazed what our eyes say about us, sometimes when we wish they would "shut up!" Believe me this has gotten me in trouble more than once. ha! We must be careful what we say, and how we say it, you would be surprised how risque something can sound if said a certain way, with smile and laughter in tow. Or even how you laugh! hahahahahaaha, I can laugh loudly, as in you think I will fall off my chair at any given moment(when I'm around my girl friends, or my hubby), but with others, a slight laugh, or smile, giggle, usually suffices. I am thankful that God is full of Mercy and forgiveness, because he hears from me regularly throughout the day, laugh, giggle, hug, smile; "Lord have mercy, wanna get some coffee soon?, I need to look up to you, talk and let out a good hearty laugh, and I know you will understand!"