You Are Enough.

*BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THAT IS A SWIMSUIT NOT A DRESS! AND IT'S ADORABLE!!! :)*

Summer has officially rolled around and I am ready to begin basking in everything it has to offer me; opportunities, relaxation, unforgettable memories, and everything else it will entail! However, summer means swimming and swimming means the need to find the perfect swim suit. And while this may not be a problem for other girls and is not something often thought about or brought up, this summer God really struck a nerve with me on a certain topic...modesty.

As summer swoops in, I think we can all agree that the majority of girls we see are in a bikini anywhere that there is water. Originally, I had planned to be in the exact same; summer bikini and ready to join the rest of the group. But then something felt wrong. Now don't misunderstand, I don't hate two piece swimsuits. And I do believe that it IS possible for some of them to be decent! In fact, there are quite a few out there that I think are cute and would love to wear. I tell you this not to confuse you about where I stand on swimwear, but to show you that dressing modestly is a sacrifice. It's not always easy, fun, OR popular. I would love to be able to relax at the beach with a bikini. I think they're cute and not as much of a hassle as one pieces/tankinis. Price wise, two pieces are MUCH more convenient, and while swimming, extra fabric on tankinis can be bothersome. However...

I CHOOSE not to wear bikinis simply as a sacrifice to guys around me. Now this may sound overly arrogant and conceited, but please bear with me. So many excuses are often used for immodesty, one of the most popular being "Guy's just have an imagination, it's not a girl's problem". Simply put, I think that's a stupid and naive way to look at a situation. Part of it IS our problem. The way we dress impacts those around us, ESPECIALLY guys. Personally, I don't want to be seen for my butt, legs, stomach, chest, or any other part that I could choose to expose. I would much rather be known for my smile or God-loving personality. Yes, guys should be able to control their imaginations and look past our bodies. They should work on respecting girls and searching for someone for reasons that aren't physical. But it can be a struggle for them, and it's vital that we as girls make it an easier thing to conquer.

Put yourself in a guy's shoes. I once heard this kind of temptation compared to exercise. Exercise, for the most part, is an important thing that girls try and maintain. We want to stay healthy and are often working on getting fit. We work out and stay away from unhealthy foods as much as possible. ALL of our willpower is used to NOT eat the perfected chocolate cake that sits on our counter. Now let's say that someone picked up this chocolate cake and followed you EVERYWHERE, 24/7 with it, and keeps reminding you it's there and how absolutely delicious it is! We can never get away from it, it's always right there, tempting us by smelling all ooey-gooey and chocolate-y! Most of us, myself included, would break down right then and there and eat the cake. And we would probably continue to break down and keep eating cake because it is continuously there and constantly tempting. Our exercise goals would be instantly depleted and we would consistently allow ourselves to keep falling back to temptation.

This is how I imagine it to be for guys. It's easy to not look at a girl's physical appearance when they aren't exposing it, but when girls are walking around with barely anything on at the beach or pool (or even just in the general public)...well that's a game changer! Guys can never get a break from all the immodesty, even if they ARE trying to see past all the bodies to find the smiles and beautiful personalities. I'm not giving them an excuse or saying that it's completely the female population's fault. Because it's NOT. But...

How hard is it to not wear a bikini, or to just cover up when you're deciding what you're going to wear for the day? Yes, sometimes it might be a little disappointing. You might also have to save a little more money for that slightly more expensive, cute (yes, cute ones do exist) one piece swimsuit. But honestly, is a little disappointment and a little extra cash really that hard to swallow? Especially when the purpose of all these things are to strive to fufill a God given responsibility! I think it's time to ditch the skimpy swimsuits, earn some self respect (not to mention the respect of others), and help our brothers in Christ.

P.S. - It really is possible to look good in a one piece/tankini! If you don't believe me, check out www.reyswimwear.com and see for yourself! :)

You are more than your outer display, and you are enough in God's eyes and in others'.

- Rachel Jenkins <3