What Modesty Has Taught Me About Gratitude

As Thanksgiving approaches and the early sparkle of Christmas begins to peek through, I find myself thinking about gratitude often, and in new ways.

I’m grateful for my family. Grateful for the assurance of salvation in Jesus Christ. Grateful for Starbucks. My gratitude list is long! And yet, with all of these things to be thankful for, I still find myself struggling with discontentment in different areas of my life. I know I’m not alone.

One of the ways that I try to combat discontentment is to jot down a few things I’m grateful for each day during my quiet time with the Lord. Recently, I was reading a beautiful book entitled “Let Me Be a Woman” by Elisabeth Elliott, in which she writes letters to her daughter surrounding biblical femininity, marriage, singleness, and widowhood: the beauty in God’s design for us as women. It stopped me in my tracks. Many of the things I find myself frustrated with are part of God’s design for me as a woman. The hard work that comes with motherhood, the time-consuming, never-ending task list that comes with being a homemaker.

To be a woman is a gift.

God created you to bear, to carry, to support, to bring life and to nurture it.

As a young girl growing up in the Apostolic church, I didn’t always have a good answer to the oft asked question, “why do you wear skirts all the time?”. But as I’ve stepped into marriage and motherhood, I’ve gained a deeper understanding of what it means to be a woman and dress modestly. I think I could answer their question very confidently now.

It’s much deeper than fabric, or trends, or rules, or appearance.

I have learned to be thankful for God’s design. I reflect His design in the way I choose to dress.

Modesty Reminds Us That Our Worth Isn’t Earned

When we dress modestly, we are practicing gratitude that eliminates the need to “prove” ourselves.

Our clothing then becomes a physical expression of a spiritual truth: that our value doesn’t come from how much attention we can gather, or what our clothes say about our “status”.
Our worth comes from the One who loves us deeply, faithfully, and completely.

Modesty Helps Us Appreciate Simplicity

There’s something calming about not having to constantly chase trends.
Modesty helps us to appreciate the simple things in our closet — last year’s boots, the blouse our friend gave us– things that don’t shout for attention but invite peace.

I’m grateful for less noise, fewer decisions, and more room for what matters.

Modesty Teaches Us to Value What’s Lasting, Not What’s Loud

When we dress modestly, we’re less focused on fleeting applause and more attentive to the qualities God cherishes: gentleness, humility, kindness, patience.

It’s hard not to feel grateful when our attention shifts away from the comparison trap and toward the things that are eternal.

As the holidays draw near and our days get busier, let’s step deeper into contentment. God’s design, His timing, and His ways are truly perfect and the greatest blessing to be thankful for this season.