Modest Monday...Oh Be Careful Little Eyes What you See

Growing up my all time favorite TV show was Little House on the Prairie. My mom let me watch each episode when it came on. I may be telling my age, but I remember when the last episode was coming on. I sat on my moms lap and watched the whole thing, all the way to the end, those who watched the show to know what happened. They blew the set up and I cried. I felt like I had lost friends, dear and special friends.

I loved the Little House books, I was an early reader so from a very young age, I had the entire set. After the show went off, I watched and re watched reruns. I read and re read the books, over and over again. In 5th grade we had to dress up like a character. Who do you think I picked? 🙂 Laura of course!

Our names were alike and to be honest, I could find myself in some of the self-same trouble she got into as well. I didn’t care that the other kids at school may have liked whoever was popular at the time. My mom sheltered me from much of the current trends, even back in those days.

(My Mom and I going to church)

What I loved about Laura and what stuck with me is her faith. As I grew up, I still loved to read about her and follow her life. My Dad is a Mason, and when I joined the Eastern Stars I was thrilled to find out that Laura too was an Eastern Star in Missouri. My mom growing up listened to me prattle on about Laura this and Mary that, she knew how important it was for me to find a “Hero” that was Godly, someone who wouldn’t lead me away from the cross and Jesus. Someone whose History didn’t end when their one hit wonder died. It is important to teach our kids about those who have went before us. Those who have loved the Lord with all their heart. It is important that their Hero not just be whoever’s song is on the radio right now.

It is also important to teach our kids how discern Biblically what good entertainment is. I will be honest when I say that although I have always loved reading about those in History, I have not always followed my own advice when seeking Biblical entertainment. Most people have heard of Army Wives. I was excited when it came out, I would run in and grab my snack and be ready to watch. I would make hubby watch too until he started picking it apart :). The show didn’t start off to bad, I mean it DID but I could justify most of what went on in it at first right? ( cough cough ) What made me stop watching it though was when they brought in the DADT story line. For those who don’t know what DADT is, it stands for Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. Well they didn’t just speak of the policy, no they had to bring in a lesbian couple. I stopped watching it that very day and have not turned it back on since. Looking back, there was a lot I probably shouldn’t have been watching on there. It is just like life, how many times do we try to justify our sins with, well it isn’t TO bad right? WRONG! All sins are the same and equal:).

So moving forward to a little more recent. Most who know me well, know I have a huge fascination with the Amish. I love the Amish Country, I love meeting them, I love their quilts, food, you name it. I blame my Uncle:), he took me down the road all the time in OH to the Amish near his house and I can’t help it, it just continued to grow. When the new show Breaking Amish came out I was determined to watch it. I watched the first season, again justifying those little sins! The show was NOT really about the Amish, it was about young people leaving the Amish and basically going hog-wild. The cursing, and drinking and everything else bad that went on should have told me to shut it off, but I kept watching. I missed most of season 2 except for the last episode and decided then I was done. The Amish and Anabaptist folks I know and have met, are nothing like the ones on this show, sure there are bad and wild in every bunch but those young people are mocking how they were raised. They were mocking God and it was just plain filth.

We as Christians are called to be set apart, to be in the world but not of the world. So why on earth did I allow myself to be sucked in like that? Well, the devil knows just where are weak spots are and he will try to root in there and take control. I don’t watch TV much, I honestly would be fine if we didn’t have one, except for Duck Dynasty! So it is strange that those are the things that suck me in. As I reflect back on this experience, I am reminded of my mothers earlier teachings and of me sitting on her lap watching Little House. I don’t need to be sucked up by todays culture and todays “heroes”, God has given us clear teachings in his word on how to pick our entertainment.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:8

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:2

One reason that we as adults should be careful what we watch and allow as our entertainment, is what example are we setting for our kids? Sometimes we as adults say well the kids are in bed, it doesn’t matter. It is fine to watch something while the kids are in bed. However, if we are sending them to bed so we can watch something that is so bad we don’t want them to see or hear what is going on in it, is this really something Christ would want us to watch? While the children may be in bed, God still sees you. Would you be ok with watching or reading what you are, with him sitting right next to you?

I have much more I can say about this topic but that song from childhood, Oh Be Careful Little Eyes what you see, is a good reminder even for us adults. Who are your Heroes? Would God approve or would he grieve? Can you share your Heroes with your kids? Are you teaching them how to pick out good entertainment, Godly entertainment and Heroes? Modesty is not just in what we wear, it is an attitude of the heart and that applies to entertainment as well.

Here is what I wore to church today….