Who says it has to be itsy bitsy?- Jessica Rey

There is a video floating around the internet on the Evolution of the Bikini. Many videos float around the internet but I have to tell you I am often skeptic to click and watch whatever "everyone" is posting. However, after ignoring it, a friend encouraged me to watch this video:

What Jessica Rey talks about here is how the bikini evolved, it's initial impact and what has now evolved from the bikini today. She touches on the beautiful topic of modesty, and is using her talents to afford women more choices for modest bikinis in her bathing suit line. http://www.reyswimwear.com/
Personally I can't wait to order one of these swim suits and encourage you to support her business as well. 

I can remember back to my teen years of watching MTV, and there was an episode where they were coving the MTV summer beach bash speaking about bathing suits and telling everyone that when it comes to swimwear : Less is more. As a fair skinned, lanky teen who was awkward- the idea of wearing strings for a bathing suit made me completely uncomfortable. I can't tell you how many times I've heard a discussion about clothing being too skimpy or revealing for one person's taste and the person desiring to wear the clothing retorts "It covers more than a bathing suit." 

While I understand that some people enjoy showing off their lady bits on the beach, perhaps listening to Jessica Rey and her report of Princeton Universities findings on how men view women in small amounts of clothing should make the ladies of the world really do a double take. 

When I was single I came to a place where I realized that how men talked to me or treated me was largely dependent on what I wore. In college I wore more clothes on the immodest side of things. I grew up in south Florida, and the beach was in walking distance from my university making shorts, tank tops and flip flops a staple in my wardrobe. The type of men that I would attract seemed to be guys who were more interested in my body than my heart. As I realized this, I decided I wanted to attract my husband my heart, because when I'm 80 and wrinkled and I've had 5 kids I am not going to look like I do now, and I wanted my future husband to still love me. So, I started to coverup. I found that the type of men I attracted then were more polite and patient. When I said I was waiting for my husband they weren't scared off, and honestly I think it's because when I was dressing in a revealing way, I was saying something with my attire, and saying I wanted a man to love and treasure me with my mouth. I was sending a mixed message. 

I was blessed to meet my husband, because if you ask him he will tell you that when we first met, and while we were dating, he couldn't tell you what curves my body had. He was pursuing me because he saw something more than outside appearance: he saw me, he saw my heart. 

1 Peter 3:1-4 says Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct. Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious.

Now I've heard countless women read this verse and think: I'm supposed to wear a potato sac, not brush my hair, and not accept a diamond ring. No. What I believe it is saying here is don't focus so intently on the external appearance, because while you might have the perfect outfit if you don't have a gentle and loving and kind spirit, than clothes and jewels and hairstyles won't change that. What Peter is writing about is character. He is telling women to be beautiful not just from the inside, but from the outside as well. He is sharing the very sentiment of God, who tells us He knows the number of hairs on our heads, He has our name written on His hand and He knows our heart and intentions. Peter is reminding wives in particular but truly all women that makeup washes away, clothes wrinkle and fray, but joy can't be hidden. 

"We need to teach girls that modesty isn't about covering up our bodies because they're bad. Modesty isn't about hiding ourselves; it's about revealing our dignity." -Jessica Rey

Ladies, true beauty is not only skin deep. True beauty is in a heart after God. So don't break out the potato sacs and moo moos, but remember that you send a message with your clothing and you can make that message say whatever you want. Why not let it say more? 

In this post I'm not going to go into the other facets for modesty: the importance of not tempting men, the importance of knowing your body is a temple for the Lord, ect. I wanted to just cover the idea of beauty. If you would like me to write more on these other topics, or on something else feel free to comment and let me know. 

Friends: what makes you feel beautiful? Let me know 

xox

Anita