Homeschooling is so much more than teaching academics. If we are not teaching the whole person then we are failing. Allow that to be encouraging to you and not discouraging. If your day gets crazy and the math does not get done yet you showed your child how to be flexible or spent an afternoon talking about faith and family then you had a great day. One aspect we need to teach our children is that of modesty. This is often thought of as a Christian value alone but it is not. However, being a Christian mom, I admit I see through a biblical lens.
As summer starts and many are wrapping up the academics do not put away the life lessons. My thoughts wondered to modesty as one value to continually teach as I looked out of my window and saw two young girls walking around in bikini tops and super short shorts. Why is this an issue? As a Christian, I do not see that as a way to glorify God. Perhaps those girls do not share my faith. Even so, they are not safe walking around the neighborhood and to an ice cream place in such a manner. It exposes more then skin. It exposes the heart. It is the exposure of the heart that draws dark thoughts and actions toward a person. A girl who walks around with little respect for herself or others will gain the attention of those who do not respect her.
You may say that the lack of clothing does not denote the amount of respect the person has nor should I place my definition of modesty on others. I understand those concerns. First, even if the child does not understand the concept of how others look at her the parents should. So, what causes a parent to allow their child to be on display in such a manner? Are we so naïve to think a young girl in a bikini does not cause lustful feelings in some men and boys? The young girls also know this gains them attention and mistakenly feel it is powerful to have boys following behind lusting after them.
Secondly, even if we disagree on what is appropriate for a young girl to wear we can agree that dangers lurk. Why risk a young girl catching the eye of a predator? I am not putting the blame on the victim. I am simply saying that we need to be safe much the same way we are safe wearing sunscreen or wearing a seatbelt. I know rules of modesty vary but I am asking that we encourage the hearts of young ladies. Treat them like ladies and teach them how ladies behave. Teach them how valuable they are and precious they are worth. You will see the heart exposes a new look.