Clothing

Strong and Dignified

“Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.” Matthew 6:28b

Dear friends,

I had shared on my instagram stories about the cost of women’s clothes and how I struggle to pay so much for them. I wanted wisdom from other women and asked them their thoughts. I received many beautiful ideas and thoughts and wisdom. I wanted to share my take on some of that here.

I have been studying Proverbs 31 for a long time. Desiring to be an excellent woman full of wisdom and prudence. It is my daily prayer to be so wise. I long to build up my home and honor the Lord in every aspect of home building. As I came across the verses about clothing in Proverbs I prayed and pondered a lot.

“She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands.” vs 13

“She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong.” vs 17

Painting by Hugh Cameron.

“She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.” vs 19

“She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet.” vs 21

“her clothing is fine linen and purple.” vs 22b

“She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchant.” vs 24

“Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.” vs 25

Painting by Albert Anker.

The Proverbs woman knows how to make clothing. She knows how to source excellent fibers and makes quality clothing for her family. Scarlet indicates high quality and also represents prosperity, wealth, and luxury. Then not only does she make it for her family, she also makes some to sell and make money from it. She is hard working and diligent to clothe her family well and also make a profit.

Strength and dignity are also her clothing. Not only does she dress well but she makes her arms strong too. She is strong physically and capable of all that is required of her. She is also strong in character. Not wavering in her faith. She is dignified. She is clothed in strength both physically as well as spiritually.

Today we women don’t need to make our family’s clothing. It has become a lost art. We have the convenience of going to a store and buying all our clothes and then wearing them that day. I’m sure women in the olden days couldn’t even have imagined that.

But what a blessing for us to have the convenience of stores full of clothes! And now even more convenient having online stores. A blessing but overwhelming at the same time. So may we be so wise in choosing the clothes we purchase and wear!

Pray first. Seek the Lord. Ask the Lord for wisdom in choosing the right clothes for your family and yourself. Ask Him to guide you and direct you to the right deals. He will provide just as Matthew 6 says. “But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothes you, O you of little faith? …. But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

He will lead you and provide for you. We just need to be patient and also do our due diligence to seek out. It may take a lot of time and work to find the right pieces of clothing but it will be worth it.

Some questions to ask ourselves:

What colors go best with my skin tone and complexion (someone on Ig reminded me of this!)? What are we in need of? What will last us through the changes in style? What will last through the years of babies and children and all that comes with that? What is actually practical? If you are a homesteader for example, chances are your clothes will get rather dirty quickly ;). What do I feel beautiful in? What does my husband love? We wives should dress well for our husbands and consider their likes and dislikes.

Most importantly what honors the Lord? Remember that we represent Christ in all we do and wear.

Painting by Hermann Seeger.

Our children and our daughters will look to us to be this example. They are always watching us.

Another question to ask is where are your clothes coming from? Who is making them? Don’t support clothes being made in sweat shops.

Back to Proverbs 31. So because I don’t seek out wool and flax to make my clothes I can still seek out clothing already made from those materials. Wool and linen are of the highest quality of clothing. And they are actually helpful to our bodies! Wool helps to regulate our temperature!! So we can scour thrift stores and online stores for these things!! Yes they will most likely be more expensive. But they last!

I have used the same wool suit for that last 6 years for my babies and it still looks brand new. And it keeps them so very warm. We have lived the last 6 years where there are cold winters and snow. But I have never been worried because my children all have wool of some kind and it keeps them very warm and snuggly.

So I believe since I can’t make things out of wool and flax then I will do my best to find wool and linen clothes new or used. It is worth the extra money for the quality and years they last. If I am going to spend more money on clothes for myself or my family, then I will be sure it is on quality clothing. And I will try to source them well. I would never spend a large amount on clothing made from polyester for example. If you are going to spend a lot on clothes then make sure they will last and that they are quality. I try to look for 100% cotton, linen, or wool when I can. Sometimes I don’t find those things however and that’s ok.

And of course as Christian women we know that what is even more important on the outside is what is on the inside.

“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.”

1 Peter 3:3-4

“Likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works.”

1 Timothy 2:9-10

“For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

1 Samuel 16:7b

“Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.”

Proverbs 31:30

Painting by Eugène de Blaas

We seek to honor God in how we dress and wait patiently for His provision all while being diligent and work hard doing what we can to clothe ourselves and our family well.

“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Colossians 3:17

That is all for now.

Sincerely, Taylor