Keep your shirt on!

During late night  shopping it is not unusual to see young children  clad in pyjamas being taken round the shops with their parents.  This is not a problem for me. But what is a problem for me is seeing the parents shopping in theirs.  Shopping in ones' night attire is becoming more popular, b ut it makes me feel uncomfortable. Unless you are sharing a hospital room with me or are under 5 years old, I really don't want to see you in it. Especially in the shopping centre or petrol station.

I know a lot of people say, "well it's only clothes!" but it's night clothes and like underwear, it is personal. I don't like seeing a vast display of bra straps, underpants, or thongs. I really don't want to be privy to what you wear under your clothes or to bed. Also, I don't want my grandchildren or your children seeing this because it exudes intimacy and goes over the boundaries of good taste and modesty.  Seeing these things leaves little to the imagination and is too much information!  

Tesco, a supermarket in England, have banned shopping in pyjamas. I heartily agree. Anyone can take 5 minutes to pull a sweater over their head and to pull up a pair of jeans or a skirt. Even I, as a chronically ill woman, have never gone out shopping in my pyjamas. I do admit to running into the milk bar for some bread in my slippers. But I wouldn't feel comfortable shopping in my pyjamas. Or even going to the letterbox in them.  

Why don't I want to be seen out in my pyjamas? you ask. It just isn't seemly for a woman of my age to do so. It goes in line with Titus 2 which admonishes us women to be chaste and pure. If I parade in my pyjamas in public, I feel that I would be dishonouring the LORD. I don't want to harm my witness. I feel that publicly dressing down like this would harm it. Being modestly dressed will avoid being ashamed.
To be] discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. Titus 2:5  Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed [is] he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. Revelation 16:15 

I want to please the LORD in all I do, including how I dress. Man looks on the outside. God may know my heart, but man only has my appearance to go by. If I draw unflattering comments by appearing in pyjamas in the supermarket or wherever, I am hardly going to influence anyone to come to Christ.  
But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for [the LORD seeth] not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7! 
 
In all things we are called to propriety, order and decency. Wearing our night attire publicly displays none of these virtues.  And while we are talking about decency- men would do well to keep a shirt on! 
   
© Glenys Robyn Hicks  

Let all things be done decently and in order. 1 Corinthians 14:40