When I was a child, my parents taught me many things. One of the things I remember most, is that we were taught to always look nice in public. It did not matter where you bought your clothes, as long as you looked clean, put together, and respectable. We didn't eat out often, but when we did, we looked our best. I especially remember dressing up for air travel or to ride the train to Richmond. In high school, I rode the train to visit a friend who was in Boarding School in Richmond. My friend, Laura, and I wore our best dresses and long wool winter coats. In fact, we have pictures of us all dressed up in front of the train.
Since the early 1990's, the demise of society has continued. Today if you ride an airplane, you are more likely to sit by someone wearing baggy sweatpants who forgot to bathe than someone who is dressed in a nice pair of khakis and a cashmere sweater. Men no longer wear smart-looking hats like those worn up until about the 1950's. Today's men might wear a backwards baseball camp instead with their pants pulled too far down their backside. What has happened to our society? Why don't we respect ourselves enough to look our best in public?
I remember well the first time I saw a man in his FLIP FLOPS at church. I am sorry, I just don't think it's that difficult to wear a closed-toe shoe for a few hours for church. I know you are not at church to impress others, but for me, church is a place where I can worship the Lord. I feel like looking my best honors Him.
There are certainly days where I run to the store in my running pants and tennis shoes in between a walk with a friend and pick up time at preschool. I don't think it's wrong to not be perfect all of the time. In fact, I never look perfect. However, if I am joining a friend for dinner, going on a date with my husband, or flying to see friends in Dallas, then I am going to look my best. How do you feel about the way people dress today?
(This photo courtesy of Peopleofwalmart.com)
