Most people today realize that Mother's milk is best for Baby whenever breastfeeding is possible. Expounding upon that issue isn't the purpose of this writing. I'd like to talk briefly about modesty in connection with breastfeeding. Many women today do understand that exposing their breasts to anyone other than their husbands is immodest. However, there are some who have stated that breastfeeding a baby is a "perfectly natural thing" and is not necessary to conceal.
It was, indeed, God's marvelous plan that a baby's nourishment would be provided by his or her mother. Nursing a baby is not a license to reveal one's breasts to "the public".
Shortly after I accepted Jesus as my personal Saviour and Lord, I was invited to spend the evening with some young couples from the church I was attending at the time. Most were married, and the hosting couple had a newborn baby. We were all gathered around the dining room table--some seated at the table and some seated on the floor. Mother and newborn baby were in the floor. The mother lifted her shirt and began nursing the baby then asked if anyone minded. This, of course, drew the immediate attention of all members of the small gathering--male and female--to her. A very brief debate ensued over whether or not it was appropriate to nurse a baby in mixed company. The debate was brief for one reason... The mother said, "Well, you can't see anything!" which caused the entire group to turn and look at her. At that very moment the baby noisily released its latch, and her breast was fully exposed to the group. Some in the group found it very amusing--or laughed to cover their discomfort. I have remembered this these many years--23 to be exact.
God's plan and design for a woman
to nourish her baby is magnificent.
But it's private.
God made other magnificent physical plans and designs which we also don't exhibit before others--we consider them to be very private. "Perfectly natural"? The list of perfectly natural activities in which we engage our bodies is quite long and includes walking, running, eating, talking, et al. The "perfectly natural" list also includes cleaning our teeth, undressing, bathing, and other bathroom functions. The latter largely involves activities which would make observers queasy or includes a degree of undress which anyone would deem immodest. For that reason, they're performed in privacy. The intimacy of the marriage bed is "perfectly natural", beautiful, God-ordained, but the marriage bed is not located in the living room, an amusement park, or a church sanctuary. It's located behind a closed door, and only those who have fallen prey to the wiles of the enemy would display this facet of their lives before others.
We can hardly claim ignorance that a man delights in a woman's breasts. If our bodies are to be covered before all but our husbands, this applies also to those times when we nurse our babies. An uncovered breast is...an uncovered breast. An honest man will tell you that a lactating breast is in his eyes...still a breast.
The best place for Mother to nurse Baby is a quiet, private place--not in a mixed crowd, even if Mother takes care to conceal herself. If a man other than one's husband is present, Mother should remove to a private place to nurse her baby.
Jesus
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Living for Jesus Our Daily BreadAlone Chat Committed Crowned with Silver
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A Horrid Man Modesty Modest Apparel
My Dad My Testimony
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