Oh Naked Girl…Part 2

I almost don’t even know where to begin here. I am in awe of what has happened in society. I have people who very strongly disagree with me about nudity and think I am either a major prude, or plain old fashioned. I have my opinion, and although I am not always right, (Which my husband will too quickly agree with!), I do believe that society needs to take a step back and decide what we truly want.

fashion-1031469__340Recently Kim Kardashian posted a nude selfie on her Instagram claiming that she ‘just had nothing to wear’! How is this even something we do without cringing?! When I have nothing to wear, I end up sitting on my closet floor crying with half my clothes surrounding me. The first thought that comes to my mind is not to take a naked picture of myself and post it on the internet! I do wonder how somebody with a closet the same size as some people’s houses can’t seem to find something to wear. I can at least find socks and underwear!! Feminism has become extraordinarily embarrassing to us ‘regular’ girls. Now, if you want to walk around your house naked and you feel great about it, go for it. I have nothing against things like that, but when you decide that being naked in front of others takes precedent over how they feel about you being naked, that is a problem.

Another problem that we have, is that we are living in an over-sexualized world. We complain about being our inability to breastfeed in public, but how can we be upset with those who are uncomfortable with it when society has taught us that seeing a partially or fully exposed breast on its own is more normal than seeing a baby nursing a breast? We have been programmed by media and magazine covers that sexiness is partially or fully exposing yourself. I nursed my babies and I at times would go into the bathroom to nurse and sometimes I covered myself in a restaurant and nursed. I loved nursing my last three sons and it felt so natural and the connection I had was incredible. I recently saw a meme on Facebook that made me chuckle, but as I thought about it, I realized that I have an argument against it (But of course!). Cow nursing

It is funny, I admit it, but cows haven’t had years and decades of conditioning telling them that their udders are sexually appealing. The bull isn’t waiting to see the exposed udder so he can feel like he got a peep show! You may say that is ridiculous, but that is what our world has come to. An exposed breast is considered pornographic and no matter how much you lecture people how natural it is to nurse, it is going to take time to recondition people to think a different way.

Pornography is a big deal. Pornography has infiltrated the world like a violent hurricane and it leaves nothing but devastation in its path. The church has fallen victim to it as well as the world. It’s enticing and we begin to tell ourselves that different things are okay as long as we do this, or don’t do that. We are taught through television and books that sex isn’t fulfilling unless something else is brought into the equation like pornography, or other people, or any other sexual perversion. We are taught that being a conservative Christian who has been married to the same spouse for decades is unnatural and crazy, while believing you are of the opposite gender and cutting your genitals off is courageous and normal.

Moving on…pornography is something that brings guilt, shame, and embarrassment. It destroys marriages and it hurts more people that the one consumes it. It affects your spouse, it affects your children, and it affects every aspect of your life. Don’t think I am saying that seeing a woman breastfeeding leads to pornography. I am saying that instead of judging and criticizing, we begin to turn into a culture that isn’t so sexualized. Why don’t we celebrate women on the cover of the latest magazine covers? Why don’t we celebrate the woman, and not just her spectacular body?

And for those liberal feminists out there, power doesn’t come from being naked. You feel power because you feel like a man can look at you, but he definitely can’t touch you. That isn’t power. Feeling empowered is when you see your child helping another hurt child for no reason than to want to help. Feeling empowered is when you realize that you got that promotion because of your brain and NOT because of your body. You cry sexism all the time and demand that you be seen as smart and strong and capable, yet you continue to sell sex as your main qualification. Stop it….just stop it please!

Advertisement

Will This Love Last?

I remember being concerned before I got married; concerned that I could be in a long term relationship. I knew my fiance was the man I was supposed to marry, and wanted to marry, but I had never been in a relationship for more than 6 months previously. I was so nervous. What if I couldn’t do it? What if I couldn’t be with a man for more than 6 months? I am not even sure I ever admitted this to my husband! What if I fell out of love?

The problem is, that the world has taught us that when we marry that other person, if it is the right one, things will be perfect. If we marry our true soulmate, things won’t be difficult and we will agree about everything. Well, world, you are stupid and your version of love is wrong and unattainable! I have been married now for 16 years and obviously, from the title of my blog, we have five sons. I have fought with, argued with, screamed at, cried to, and slammed doors on my husband. He has pretty much returned each of those things to me as well. Love isn’t this perfect bubble that can never be broken. Love is being broken and humble, and standing with your spouse, who is also broken and humble; standing together through everything. 

I am truly awed by what love is. Love isn’t what I thought it was; it is nothing like it. My husband is my best friend. We have been through many trials throughout our 16 years of marriage; perhaps not as many as some, but our fair share. I am in awe of the love I have for him, and that he has for me. When we got married, we vowed to love each other through anything. We say love, but behind that word is so many others that we don’t say. We vowed to trust each other, to stay committed to each other, to love each other, to be faithful to each other sexually, emotionally, mentally, spiritually, and physically. 

I may not always be the best at letting my husband know how full my heart is with love for him, but it is there. I don’t ever have to worry about that concern about my marriage lasting, because my love for him grows every day. My committment to him grows every day. I love him; I can’t help it. When we have bad days and we fight, I still love him; I am still committed to him. That is what love is. I will never give up on him and he will never give up on me. We are truly one; just as God intended.

So to my husband, I love you. I can honestly say I love you more now than I even did then. You truly make me a better person. I will stand by you no matter what happens in this lifetime, because that is what love is. Love it nothing like I imagined, but everything I could ever wish for. I love you My Honey!!