MODEST Shopaholics! (Anonymous?)

“One of the deadliest obstacles to the practical power of [modesty] is an undercurrent of suspicion that ‘the thing can’t be done’”

Gerard Kelly in his book “Chastity: A Guide For Young Teens”

For a girl trying to practice the virtue of modesty, one of the biggest challenges is shopping for the right clothes. Sure, it’s not impossible to find something nice and trendy that covers everything, but what about the peer pressure? What about the friend who encourages you to buy the dress that’s too short? Or the one who takes you shopping for your birthday and really, really wants you to get that top with the low neckline? The issue with shopping isn’t as much about FINDING the right clothes as it is about BEING with the right people, or knowing what to say to the ones who don’t have quite the same guidelines as you. So what DO you say when you’re stuck in a sticky situation that you want to get out of?

There are tons of options out there for facing peer pressure, but obviously one of the biggest and best answers is to be yourself. If you think something you try is too short, then say it out loud then don’t back down. Who cares if Stacy or Amy think it’s adorable on you?! If YOU think it’s not long enough, or doesn’t cover enough, then YOU don’t need to buy it! Sure, it can be harder than it sounds to just say “no”, so think about it this way. You go out and buy that dress with your friends, and then it sits in your closet for years because you’re uncomfortable wearing it. Sound familiar? Yah, I know it’s happened to me plenty of times. On the other hand, there’s always the temptation sitting there begging you to PUT IT ON!!! WEAR IT!!! And thus begins the slow slide to a completely different line of thought. Like the song says, it’s a slow fade when black and white can turn to gray. Don’t turn it to gray, stay strong when you shop!