Lazy, Bummy Sweats

I've been lazy.  I feel I must confess this.  My children have been lazy.  They have followed my example.  We don't change out of our pajamas and sweats often.  In the picture, those are legs in my comfy black sweats that I wore to sleep in last night.  Megan is still in her nightgown.  Our hair hadn't been brushed. 

We aren't sick.  We aren't injured.  We are lazy. 

One of the benefits of homeschooling is that we are in charge of the schedule.  And there is no doubt that it is a benefit that my children can be relaxed while doing their school work.  But lately, I've begun to wonder if we have gotten overly lazy about our appearance.

It is a good thing that my children are not in an environment where they will have their clothing judged by peers.  The latest styles and fashions, the brand of jeans they wear, none of it enters into their daily life.  They can just be who God made them without peer pressure and cliques passing judgment if they aren't wearing what is popular or most expensive.

The problem is that, with freedom comes responsibility.  Even I have succumbed to laziness.  While I don't want my children feeling as if they have to dress like everyone else to fit in, I do want them to realize that laziness is wrong.  However, I haven't exactly been a great example to follow.

I want my girls to be feminine and confident.  Feminine and confident don't go well with lazy and bummy.  Many days we leave the house.  If we do, we don't go farther than the park or the library.  It's easy to just stay in sweats.  

For myself, I have noticed that, being bummy and lazy plays into a lack of motivation.  I don't want to do much but lounge around when I'm not dressed.  However, when I get up and get ready for the day, I feel I accomplish so much more.  

I haven't even blogged about the things we are working on in our homeschool as much as I used to because I don't want a bunch of pictures of disheveled children still wearing pajamas all day.

I was reminded today that, as a Christian, I represent Christ.  Lazy, bummy, grungy styles have become the norm.  The attitudes of the past, where people showed respect for others by dressing nicely every day, seem long gone.  There was a time when a lady wouldn't go to the store without changing her dress and fixing her hair.  My daughter walked to the store this morning in pajama bottoms and a sweat shirt.  See the contrast?

So...I'm headed upstairs to make myself presentable.  I felt totally convicted on this matter.  Yes, the Lord looks on the heart.  However, my heart has been lazy, and that's not Godly.

Maybe, as I work to set a proper example, my children will follow suit.