SHED MY SKIN

I DIDN'T REALIZE THE BIND I'D FIND MYSELF IN WHEN I POSTED THE PICTURES OF MY BARE BELLY ON THURSDAY ON MY BLOG.

I TOOK THOSE PICTURES EARLY IN THE MORNING THAT DAY AND I WAS EXCITED TO WRITE ABOUT THEM.

HOWEVER, A STRANGE FEELING CREPT SLOWLY OVER ME AFTER THE POSTING WAS FINISHED AND I BEGAN TO CONSIDER THE FACT THAT, I HAVE NO IDEA WHO LOOKS AT MY BLOG. I STARTED TO IMAGINE PARENTS OF MY STUDENTS, OR FRIENDS IN THE WARD, OR HEAVEN FORBID, ANYONE OF THE NON-FEMALE GENDER FALLING UPON THE SURPRISING FACT THAT MY BLOG WAS NO LONGER G-RATED.

NOW I SPEAK HERE WITH CAUTION, IN NO WAY WANTING TO FRIGHTEN THOSE WHO DIDN'T SEE THE PICTURES. I THINK MOST WOULD AGREE, THEY WERE PRETTY HARMLESS- BUT SKIN WAS SHOWING NONETHELESS- MY BARE BELLY AND SHOULDERS.

I HAD CALLED BJ BEFOREHAND, ASKING HIM IF HE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE INAPPROPRIATE TO DISPLAY THESE PICTURES, AND HE TOLD ME HE TRUSTED ME AND WHATEVER I WANTED TO DO. WHEN HE SAW THE BLOG THAT NIGHT AT HOME, HE NO LONGER WAS SURE HE SHOULD'VE GIVEN ME THE GREEN LIGHT.

STILL A LITTLE UNDECIDED, BEING TORN IN WONDERING IF IT REALLY WAS A BIG DEAL OR NOT, HE SAID THE THING I HAD BEEN THINKING IN MY MIND ALL NIGHT.

"WHAT WOULD YOUR MOM SAY ABOUT IT?"

I HAD ALREADY GONE THERE. I ALREADY KNEW WHAT MY MOM WOULD SAY...

AND I HAD EVEN GONE ON TO CONTEMPLATE WHAT I WOULD THINK IF I WERE A MOM AND MY DAUGHTER HAD PUT UP SKIN-BARING PICTURES OF HERSELF ON A BLOG.

I'LL TELL YOU THIS MUCH: NEITHER MOMS WERE FOR IT.

AND RIGHTFULLY SO.

I CONTINUED TO THINK ABOUT THIS AS FRIDAY AND SATURDAY WORE ON- HAVING DECIDED AT THIS POINT THAT I'D LEAVE THE PHOTOS UP, AND THAT I SIMPLY WOULDN'T POST ANY MORE LIKE THAT SO LONG AS I SHOULD EVER LIVE.

BUT THE THINKING CONTINUED, THE PONDERING ENSUED, AND I CREATED MORE AND MORE SCENARIOS IN MY HEAD OF PEOPLE THAT MIGHT SEE THOSE PICTURES.

THE WORRY SET IN AS I THOUGHT ABOUT NIECES AND BISHOPS AND SISTERS- PEOPLE THAT I'D NEVER WANT TO DISSAPOINT. 
AND YA KNOW... I KNOW SOME MAY SEE THIS AS AN OVER-REACTION. SOME MIGHT ROLL THEIR EYES AND THINK, "FOR PETE'S SAKE IT WAS YOUR STOMACH! WHO CARES!", OTHERS MAY NOT CARE ONE WAY OR ANOTHER,

BUT THIS IS WHAT I KNOW.

THIS IS THE CONCLUSION I'VE COME TO.

IN THIS DAY, IN THIS WORLD WE LIVE IN WHERE PEOPLE ARE MORE CONFUSED, AND MORE LOST, AND MORE CAUGHT UP IN THEIR OWN GLORY AND OPINIONS THAN WHAT'S RIGHT, AND AS PEOPLE CONTINUE TO LOSE THEIR FAITH AND BELIEF IN TRUTH FOR STUPID PERSONAL IDEAS AND PHILOSOPHIES, I KNOW THIS...

A WOMAN'S BODY IS BEAUTIFUL. AND SACRED. AND HOLY. AND PRIVATE.

A WOMAN'S BODY IS INTENDED FOR DIVINE PURPOSES LIKE MOTHERHOOD, AND SERVICE, AND DANCING, AND CREATING BEAUTY IN THE WORLD.

AND A WOMAN'S BODY IS TO BE SHARED AND GIVEN COMPLETELY TO ONE PERSON AND ONE PERSON ONLY-
HER HUSBAND.

I