TAKE OFF YOUR SHIRT AND PANTS

             [From December 26, 2011 through January 1, 2012, I'm going to be running some of my top viewed posts for 2011. I hope you enjoy these once again--or for the first time. ME]

             I read a story recently about a teenage girl who wanted to buy her first bikini. She approached her parents and alerted them to her wish.

            Her father calmly replied, “Let’s discuss this, but first, take off your shirt and pants.”

            This horrified the teenager. She exclaimed, “Dad! I can’t do that! I would be standing here in my underwear!”

            He gently explained that standing in her underwear would cover up more of her body than a bikini would; moreover, she was standing in the presence of only her mom and dad. If they could not see her in garments that covered more of her body, why would she want to be seen in less before an infinitely larger group of people?

            The teenager never mentioned bikinis again.

TAKE OFF YOUR SHIRT AND PANTS

            I read a story recently about a teenage girl who wanted to buy her first bikini. She approached her parents and alerted them to her wish.

            Her father calmly replied, “Let’s discuss this, but first, take off your shirt and pants.”

            This horrified the teenager. She exclaimed, “Dad! I can’t do that! I would be standing here in my underwear!”

            He gently explained that standing in her underwear would cover up more of her body than a bikini would; moreover, she was standing in the presence of only her mom and dad. If they could not see her in garments that covered more of her body, why would she want to be seen in less before an infinitely larger group of people?

            The teenager never mentioned bikinis again.

How Did You Become a Hero?

            Humility and modesty are traits to be admired. That’s why I appreciate the story about the small boy asking John F. Kennedy how he became a war hero.  

            “It was easy,” Kennedy answered. “The Japanese sank my boat.”

The Old Pick-Up Truck

There is an old story, probably apocryphal, that humorously reminds us of the biblical values of modesty and humility. It teases us Texans, but that’s okay, and it proves a point.

A Texas rancher driving through Vermont had to stop to let a farmer’s cows cross the road. As the farmer passed in front of the Cadillac convertible, the rancher called out to him, “How much land you got, partner?”

“Well,” the farmer said, “My land runs all the way down there to them alders along the brook. On the meadow side, over there, it goes clean up to those larches on the hill.”

“You know,” said the rancher, “I got a spread in Texas and I can get in my pickup and drive all day without reaching any of my boundary lines.”

“That so?” said the farmer. “I had a truck like that once.”