You are valuable. No matter who you are, no matter what you’ve done or what you do, no matter what you look like or how you dress, you are valuable, and you have the same worth as anyone else. So...what does this have to do with modesty?
Sometimes the term “modesty” can rub us the wrong way. It makes us feel like if we don’t dress a certain way we are being judged personally. It can sometimes be seen as a negative term that takes away the beauty of self-expression, of showing others who you really are. It seems limiting, and we don't like to feel limited. If that is what the idea of modesty has become, then we have some serious work to do to change that impression.
Modesty, in fact, expresses who you are in the fullest sense and reveals your true beauty. It expresses the inherent value which you have as a man or a woman. Modesty isn’t just about “covering up.” To think of it in such strict terms leads us to believe that we are “covering up” who we are and hiding our true selves, which is not the idea of modesty. Modesty isn’t about wearing frumpy clothes and trying to hide your manhood or womanhood. It’s not about trying to avoid looking attractive.
Modesty is freeing, not restrictive! It frees you from objectification, so people will look at you and see the beauty not just of your body but also of your heart. Modesty reveals who you are to the world as a whole person. Modesty should not take away one's expression of his or her personality but should lead to a fuller expression of it. What you wear should tell someone how valuable you truly are, that you are sacred, and should express your personality and what makes you, you.
But what about the "rules"? Rules tend to seem negative.
That's where this idea of limitations comes in. I can't wear super short shorts, even if they look cute. I can't wear a really tight dress that shows off all my nice curves. What CAN I do?!
Guidelines for modest apparel are there to help you be free, to help you not be confined to being valued for just your body and not for your personality. So when people talk about “covering up,” don't let it be negative. It should be positive because it refers to revealing who you truly are, not hiding it.
You CAN wear a beautiful dress that looks great on your figure AND highlights your dignity as a person, too. You CAN wear shorts that are really nice and look great with many different outfits. Their longer length doesn't take away their attractiveness. You can have the best of both worlds–cute AND dignity-accentuating.
It might seem frustrating at first, but when you discover that people no longer want you just for your body, you will discover the beauty of modesty.
