Having recently finished up a science-y degree, I am obviously well qualified to thoroughly and accurately discuss the cultural impact of fairy tales. Well, perhaps not. But perhaps my fresh memories of deep dives into the murky waters of f-ratios, geostrophic balance, sediment cores, and DNA cleaning have made me hungry for exploration in waters of a different sort.

Here I am writing about modesty again. I feel like my last essay on the topic could be easily misconstrued, and I tend to use ApricotPie as a place to practice articulating what and why I believe, so, here we go again.

As Christian women, we are often encouraged to dress modestly. There are plenty of reasons that are given for this virtue, but some reasons seem to have a tendency to be warped into something nasty or nonsensical. Attempts to teach girls about modesty have been used to shame them or deluge them with a long list of rules – rules that can sound a lot like “Touch not; taste not; handle not” (Colossians 2:21).*

God mentioned two things necessary to add to creation before He created Eve.

1) It was not good for the Man, Adam, to be alone.
2) The next creation should be a helpmeet suitable for him.

Sometimes I ponder and I wonder why
A woman who's blessed tears up to cry
And then I remember her eyes so gentle
Feeling so deeply she loves not a little

Her life is a beautiful poem
Her heart is intricately woven
Her God-given life a sacrifice of love;
Her soul made of beauty given from above

Remember her tear; needed; 'tis true
It's a privilege if shared with you
Her sorrows are all yours now, as are her joys
Her heart is in your hands, your love it employs

When considering Biblical womanhood in the Scriptures, there is one verse that comes up rather frequently:

Who can find a virtuous woman?
For her price is far above rubies.
- Proverbs 31:10