Modest Mary

I was at my doctor's office yesterday and had to get some money to pay the parking fee (I couldn't scrounge even a $1 in change! There are drawbacks to cleaning out my purse...) So, I walked over to Carl's Jr to get something to eat and get money from my ATM transaction. I walk a block down to CJ's and as I approach the register I see a sign that says "No ATM/Cash Only." Phooey! So, I go walking down the street 2 blocks away towards Washington Mutual to use their ATM. As I'm about 1/2 block away I see a liquor store and figure they have an ATM machine. Now, just to set the record straight: I don't frequent liquor stores often. At all. I walk up to the cashier and ask him if I could get cash back from my gum purchase. He said "yes" so I'm waiting for him to finish with his current customer. I notice behind him all the different sizes, colors, and shapes of alcohol held behind a metal rod (in case of an earthquake I assume). I didn't know there were so many varieties! Wow! And so colorful! Anyway, I'm still waiting and my eyes are drawn up to the wall above the counter and I see the cashier in several different pictures with all these Playboy Bunny-type women with purple velvet skimpy outfits. He's surrounded by all these young and voluptuous women in these various photographs. I take a closer look at him in person and in the picture and decide that he's a pretty good-looking man in his late 20's who seems to have quite a way with the ladies. And he wants everyone to know it. Then I look down at the register itself and I see a religious postcard of what appears to be Mary with a glowing heart. He's not in this picture with her, however. I almost said to him" You seem to like hanging out with pretty ladies. How about her? (I would point to the Virgin Mary-looking lady.) Do you like hanging out with her, too?" As I was pondering this possible question, he took my ATM card and I proceeded with the transaction. I came so close to asking the question, thinking it might be funny. However, the moment came and went. I was still rather soberminded from my doctor's visit. I feel like I missed an opportunity to make the guy think about the ladies in his life, his publicly posted photographs, and what they say about him.

But, really, I didn't care that much. I just thought it was kind of ironic with the pictures being of such different kinds of women. So, I left. I do hope that he does have an inclination toward the Mary Mother of Jesus- types someday. She may not show her "goods," but boy was she highly esteemed by God. If I were a man I'd kind of go for a woman who was chosen by God himself to bear the son of God. That doesn't sound very sexy or hot, but I'm sure Joseph saw her in a whole new way after she birthed Jesus. (See my earlier post The Most Amazing Birth). Who says lots of skin and particular body parts showing is sexy anyway? How many perfect-looking covergirls and celebrities do you see on the supermarket shelf that are divorced, their boyfriends have cheated on them, or they just broke up with their current love interest? That doesn't sound sexy to me at all.

In fact, one night Tim and I were watching some cute teeny bop movie. They show the couple in a car late at night (uh-oh - you know where this might be going) and he puts this temporary tattoo on her bare shoulder. As he's taking off the paper, he blows on her shoulder to dry the ink and she looks at him. No touching, no kissing, nothing like that. I look over at Tim and say: "That's steamy!" He agrees wholeheartedly and we both smile at one another. (After all, we didn't have six kids accidentally. We eventually figured out how I kept getting pregnant.)

I think that modesty and a little mystery can be quite tantalizing. That's my take on things. It can also be very appropriate and considerate of others who really shouldn't be seeing another woman's body or skin. My girls know I'm very particular about what I will let them wear. They're pretty good about choosing modest clothing. I would never want them to be in one of liquor store boy's photos, unless their heart was glowing....