The date went well, and I was in a group with three other guys, Doug, John, and Jeff. We dropped our dates off to get ready for the dance, and when I picked Lindsey back up she was in a beautiful dress. I couldn't help but notice the dress had an appropriate back and sleeves. Honestly that is so much easier on us guys. Part of the reason is that I don't have to worry about where to put my hand when dancing. The other reason is it really affects us guys, and I don't think girls understand how it messes with our heads. I appreciated that I wouldn't need to fight any internal battles to go to a dance with Lindsey.
We met up with the other three couples and took pictures. I instantly noticed the other three girls had straps on, no sleeves. One had a short dress. Could it be my date was the only one who thought that covering her skin could be a relief to the guy? Don't girls realize that being modest is actually attractive?
Doug discreetly said to me, "Gee, have you noticed your date is the only one who had a modest dress?"
Yeah, I noticed. Doug was LDS, so we understood each other, and we knew why we would rather have a date that was modest. There was no way in the world I would ever say it to these young women.
I complimented Lindsey on the dress, and eventually she confessed that her mother had made it. I realized she had probably looked around, but hadn't been able to find a modest dress. No doubt the other girls had done the same and eventually bought what dress they could find. Lindsey seemed reluctant to admit that her dress was not store bought, but what I heard was that she went the extra mile to avoid my feeling uncomfortable.
After the dance Jeff told me he noticed that I had the only modest date. Guys really do notice! Jeff wasn't LDS, but his date was. The way he said it I think he was impressed with my date. There was no way in all of creation we would say it to the girls, but we mentioned it to each other. There wasn't a need to say more than a sentence or two: we all knew exactly what we were thinking and why.
When the pictures came out I took each guy his packet of photos. John looked at the photo, and there were all four girls with the guys behind. He said, "You know, Scott, your date was the only one with sleeves."
Yeah, I know. Guys do notice! Neither John nor his date were LDS, but this is something that goes beyond standards imposed by a church. A girl who is modest is attractive. The only reason young women don't understand this is because they don't understand how guys really work.
The way John said it made me feel proud. I could be confident to take Lindsey anywhere. If I needed to take her to my house and meet my parents... If I needed to take her to church and introduce her to the bishop... if for some reason we were alone and stranded somewhere... if I needed to stand with her before God. "For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked... Therefore we are always confident," (2 Corinthians 5:2-6)
I don't need to worry about how I would feel or whether I would need to fight my own self because Lindsey understood my standards and supported them in a beautiful way. To be in the presence of the Savior with a date who was not modest would be a huge embarrassment. The Lord said, "let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God" (D&C 121:45). Lindsey believed that and her confidence made her very attractive. I still have that photo, and I am always proud to see the girl that wasn't embarrassed to do what what right.
No comments:
Post a Comment