Dimes and Rubies

My kids LOVE to get the mail.  They rarely have anything addressed to them in the mail but for some reason, going to the mailbox in hopes of something is exciting to them.  Last Friday, I noticed some mail on the stairs— it usually is left on the kitchen counter— and I saw the back of a catalog.  Actually I saw a blonde with a look on her face that wasn’t about having fun with her friends or enjoying a sunny day at the park.  It was telltale Victoria’s Secret.  The anger flared and I flipped it over and there was the brunette in her bra, giggling, sliding out of her pants.



I wanted to scream— and I might have, sort of, but we had company in town.  They heard a small {medium?} rant and I probably freaked my 14 year old niece out.  Call me a fanatic, over dramatic or whatever, but I despise their catalog.  I couldn’t sit down and compose the email brewing in my head right then so I threw the soft porn in my desk drawer and went on with my very fun weekend with family from Alpharetta.  I took it out of my desk yesterday and my momma bear ire spiked again.  There she was in her bra, taking off her pants— eyeing whoever eyed her.  I texted a friend— who was in the middle of her own long list— she thought for a minute and asked me— “B’s not home today, correct?  Was this Friday and you’re still hopping mad?”

Yes!!!!

When I started the email it all came back.  So I prayed because I didn’t want to be obnoxious or rude.  But I wanted to be very clear.  I typed.

I would like my name to be removed from the catalog list.  I requested this a few years ago and my request was honored, but last week we received a catalog in my mail box.  Please read this in the kindest way possible — I know it seems like such a small thing to you— and I know it’s your job— but I am raising a VERY impressionable 11 year old boy and as a mom, I don’t want or need a catalog with a woman taking off her pants on the cover to come to my mail box.  Ever. There is a place for sexy and provocative within the marriage commitment— I applaud that and enjoy that myself—  but until then, I don’t want your catalog coming to my home making it more difficult for my son to wait to fully enjoy and delight in his wife one day.

Thank you— and I know, you, who is receiving this email most likely has nothing to do with the mailing list so I don’t want to put a damper on your day.  I am not mad at you, just a mom doing what she can. 

I hope you have a good day.  Just get me off that list. ; )
Sincerely, 
Krista Sanders

This is not the first email I have typed to VS.  I despise pornography but I have a deeper hatred for unsolicited pornography.  Their posters in the mall— OUTSIDE of the stores— kick me in the gut.  Several years ago, there was an adopt a pet type thing going on in a mall where Jeff and I were Christmas shopping and I kid you not, the WHOLE thing was set up down the side of VS in front of 5 gigantic classic Victoria photos— mounds of cleavage, lacy thongs in place, sleepy eyes etc.  It was the strangest thing seeing these as a backdrop to this event— not to mention completely offensive without the event.  The response to that email was nebulous— mall management had no control over what VS placed on the outside of their stores and VS was “sorry” I was offended.

When it invades my mailbox uninvited, it’s a whole other story- especially when I’ve requested to be taken off the list.  {And yes, it came to me and not “current resident”.}  My same friend texted me later last night and she had grown “hopping mad” because she had time to think about it.  She was thinking about how our boys are faced with those kinds of things often- and that’s reality-- but reality SHOULDN’T be it showing up in our homes!!  We want our homes to be a FREE zone from the need of what I call, “Operation Look Away”.   It’s maddening having to be concerned about what comes to my mailbox unsolicited.  Our hyper sexualized society permeates everything it seems. But PLEASE, not my home!

So yes, I can send email to Victoria’s Secret Customer Service Department but here’s the real work— being on the offense.  I love Proverbs 2- a banner prayer for all of our children but especially our boys.  Let’s pour this in.   Daily.

My son, if you accept my words
 and store up my commands within you,

turning your ear to wisdom
 and applying your heart to understanding—

indeed, if you call out for insight
 and cry aloud for understanding,

and if you look for it as for silver
 and search for it as for hidden treasure,

then you will understand the fear of the Lord
 and find the knowledge of God.

For the Lord gives wisdom;
 from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

He holds success in store for the upright,
 he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,

for he guards the course of the just
 and protects the way of his faithful ones.

Then you will understand what is right and just
 and fair—every good path.

For wisdom will enter your heart,
 and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.

Discretion will protect you,
 and understanding will guard you.

That Proverb goes on to talk about the “wayward woman with her seductive words” and how her path leads “down to death” and causes them to forfeit the “path of life”.  Make sure he knows what Scripture has to say about women who purposefully tempt men— and how they are a dime a dozen but the “rubies” are a treasure to be sought.   And then the second line of offense is for your son to watch you love your husband well, day in and day out— to honor him and respect him and be a great companion for him.

Victoria has no secret.  She’s put it all out there for all to see.  A dime a dozen.  A woman who fears the Lord and who is cherished by her husband has secrets revealed only to him.  A ruby worth the hunt.

Comments

Your email to VS made me smile, agree in my heart, chuckle, and give you a fist bump all the way from south Georgia!
Sarah said…
makes me mad… that VS!
Coffee Mom said…
Yes. Yes to all. Thank you for this - being willing to speak truth and wisdom!!! You echoed my heart on this matter.

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