Prom and Parental Power

 

Does not wisdom call? Does not understanding raise her voice? Proverbs 8:1

I spent a little time shopping for my Grandkids at Walmart. I was horrified by what is offered for girls. The shorts can get no shorter and the tops can get no thinner.

It reminded me of what I have been seeing on Facebook. It’s prom season. I am generally impressed with what Christian girls can find when they shop for something modest, and beautiful, to wear.

I am equally appalled at what some parents are allowing their daughters to not just buy, but wear in public.

I want to scream, “Why would you let her wear that dress? Why are we not teaching our daughters, in an already porn obsessed world, to stand out by standing up for what is right? Modesty is right according to 1 Timothy 2:9, “Likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control.”

For the sake of full disclosure, I did not fight this battle. I had the opposite problem. Not so much for formal events, but on a day-to-day basis I had to beg my daughter to wear something feminine. Her idea of comfort was blue jeans and big shirts. Our battles were different, but we still tried to teach what was appropriate clothing for the occasion and the location. It is part of parenting a child that we want to grow up to love and serve the Lord.

Teaching modesty and appropriate dress is a responsibility of being a parent.

Moms, I am putting this on us because, most of the time, we take our girls shopping for clothing. We hand over the debit/credit card, approving the purchase. What witness is it to our daughters if we don’t teach them that these little details of life are the fruit of what is in our hearts?

On top of the sin of revealing too much, is the sin sleazy dresses might attract. We are not responsible for a man’s behavior, but sexually suggestive prom gowns may bring on more than our daughters are ready for.

Date rape is not all that common on Prom night. Sadly, it does happen. Do we want our daughters to be a part of the 5% statistic who experience that after their prom?

The other public school statistic that was unsettling was the amount of alcohol and drugs consumed on prom night in the U.S. More drinks = less inhibition. (https://www.creditdonkey.com/prom-night-statistics.html)

This is not just a prom night issue. It happens that the prom means I see more of what kids are wearing. The everyday clothing choices for teen girls seem to be sexually inspired. Some public schools, it would appear, do not have a decency standard. (Do we really want our kids to be there?)

Moms and Dads, do you allow your daughters to dress provocatively? If so, will you please repent and speak the truth to your teens? God blesses His children who do things His way. He does not command ugly. He does not command frumpy. He does not demand dull. He commands modest.

When we teach them to do what God commands, He will use it for His glory and their good.