I have done a lot of thinking about this subject. I have always know what dressing modestly meant. I have not always done well at it though. But now, as a married Christian woman, I have a job to do, to make sure that I don't attract or flirt with men that are not my husband. You can flirt with out batting your eyes, or ever opening your mouth! Just by the way you dress, what you wear and how you carry yourself. I had a friend, whose husband would get mad everytime she bent over, as she would show off more than she should have cleavage wise, to everyone in the room, but felt nothing for him. It infuriated him that although she wasn't enamored toward him anymore, that she would show every other guy in the room , merely by not trying, perfectly by accident. I understand how this must have felt by both parties. We are meant to be sensual toward our mates, but when you are showing it all off all of the time, there is nothing sacred or special about it anymore, I believe even in the bedroom. I mean, you can't turn on your TV or see a billboard without lusty pics everywhere you turn! There isn't almost anything anymore that isn't being marketed without sex or flirtation, or sexy clothes or hair somewhere in the commercial! The fashion industry is having a fabric shortage, as the clothes they make barely cover you! I believe it is time for the women of God to remove themselves from the world as it is, and be separate and not of this world, as our Creator has asked us to.
I have covered off and on for a long time. As a married woman to a Jewish man in the 80s, I covered my hair as it is a mitzvah , Kisui Harosh ,to be between you and your husband. As we know in our times, all the hair commercials and the styles and cuts and colors, there must be SOMETHING about hair on a woman that makes a man crazy. As, a married Christian woman, finding out that in the NT it also says there was covering going on in some of the churches of ancient times. I always felt that I was a part of the Old and New Testament, through covering it made total sense. I still cover partly to keep my "sensualness" for my husband. I am not legalistic about it at all, yes lots of people have seen my hair in many ways and such, its just a fact of life. But I always felt like I was coming home, when I began to cover my hair again. I mean, I just let it down, when my hubby is home, or I am by myself, I always cover with scarves, or hats, or snoods when I am out, as a sign of pure heart, integrity of spirit, respect for my husband and God, and a rebellion of what the world says is ok for Christian women to wear and get away with it, especially in front of our Lord in His House, and in front of my husband and other brothers.)I believe men should be modest also, but that is another story) As we are as responsible for our part in causing someone to stumble (sin), as if we are taking part in it ourselves. The Scriptures teach that if you point someone in the way of a sin, and goad him toward it, or help him, it would be better for you to be with a Mother Bear robbed of her cubs, than to meet with our Maker on Judgement Day! That is pretty strong language to me,(especially living in Montana, I can SEE that in my mind, NOT a pretty sight!) It is a feeling of personalization between God and me. It makes me realize that I am his and He is mine. It makes me remember the intimate relationship he and I have, just us. It makes me remember why he chose me to be his child, why I am the way he made me, and parts of my life that have been good and bad, all coming together for His glory, and serving Him as my savior. It makes me remember the vow I took to try to be more like him. To do unto others as I would like them to do unto me. To, if I see my fellow person, in trouble, try to help them, even if not appreciated, because God appreciates it, and He is who I am living for, He is all who matters at the end of my life, and who I will be going to live with when this life is over. I am very passionate about God and about this subject. It makes me feel more self confident than ever! I feel that any thing that comes up, I can jump in to help, whether it is helping give eye screenings with my fellow Lions, or helping a wounded animal on the road, or helping at the local food bank. I am ready to help, always. Not worrying, whether I will break a nail, get my clothes dirty, lose my jewels, or get my hair in the way, or mess my hair up. Its COVERED with a nice scarf, or hat, ready to do whatever needs to be done. I look my best, and I think I can dress it up to go out with my hubby, or stick on a baseball cap and jump on the quad or go for a hike, if the occasion calls for that.
Covering my hair is not something I have to do. It is not a commandment, although God did say to follow him, and in 1 Corinthians, Paul, who is talking to some people says "That God is asking him to tell them to follow him(God)." Paul makes several references to covering women's hair, why and who and then some people say its just the "hair". I also don't believe that every woman wants to do this, or should want to do this, its really a "heart issue, more than a head issue" I am trying to have God "create a clean heart in me", and as I cover, it is my prayer all day long. There are lots of women who do cover, and lots who don't, its between you and God. I read on and studied the original word usage, and you will see the word for cover is the same all the way through until the last verse, that talks about "hair being a women's glory, for it is for a covering", that word is a different word all together, meaning like robe or vest or stole. Not a cloth covering as is mentioned in the earlier sentences. For days on end, I felt God was talking to me, about how I used to flaunt my beauty, my hair, body, way I carried myself, not being quiet and submissive spirit. So I prayed for several days, and then tried on covers, not only did I feel extreme peace within, where as before, I thought God wanted me to cover, but wasn't sure. But now, when I did, I realized that things seemed to go more smoothly. My prayers were answered in a more obvious way. Miracles that weren't there before, were appearing before me, just because I said "yes". God asked me to do something, and I said Yes! Just like the feeling you get when you ask your child to do something, and they don't drag their feet, or say no!, they say "Yes Mom". I feel honored to participate in a long honored tradition of women of faith. I realize that not all women of faith, cover. some think of it as "legalistic", or just down right, unbiblical! For them I say, this is between me and God alone, not even my family or husband has this call. If I say NO to God I am setting myself up for disaster. I believe that he has each of us called to service in some way or another. I feel that he has called me to cover as a part of loving Him, as a part of modesty, as a way to be separate and not part of this world, as a way to keep me to just me and my hubby, to not be too friendly or on public display in anyway. To keep my beauty as not to call to myself, but to let the light of God shine through me, for Him to glow and be my color and light. I think it makes me a better prayer warrior, a better person inside, and certainly a better wife. It isn't a cerebral crystal ball, or anything magical yet, it's not for my glory but for His, to let his love and light shine through me, let me be in Him and Him in me. To do his will, whatever that is, wherever He wants me to go , and with a cover of His protection on my head. Just cause He said so...
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