By Shari Braendel

So you’re a Christian, huh? You love your husband and children and try your best to lead your family like a good Christian wife and mama should. You see words like hot and sexy and you pretty much freeze up. You’ve decided that you can’t or shouldn’t be sexy because you’re a God-fearing woman and those two things just don’t go together, let alone let it be YOU we’re talking about.

We could go on all day with this topic but from a faith and fashion perspective, I’m going to tell you that, not only is it okay to be sexy, I think it’s a requirement. Whoa, you say? But Shari, what about modesty?

Now don’t go getting all cranky on me. I’ll be the first one to tell you that modesty plays a major role when it comes to what we choose to put on our bodies each day. But I am sad that we’ve stopped thinking of ourselves as sexy. I’m sad, not only for our husbands, I’m sad for us as women.

Say to yourself, “I’m sexy”. Can you do it? Or have you stopped thinking there’s anything remotely sexy about you so those words just won’t come out of those pouty lips of yours?

My friend, Dr. Juli Slattery (www.AuthenticIntimacy.com) and I recently spent some time discussing this very topic as it relates to women and marriage. The consensus is that women stop thinking of themselves as sexy for a number of reasons; age, post-pregnancy, weight loss, cancer. Though they’re viable reasons, it’s unfortunate on many levels. Since I’m the fashion and faith girl, I can only help you address this from an outer beauty perspective, though I do believe that you’ll feel better on the inside too.

So how can you be a hot mama during the holidays? How can you look at yourself and be able to say the word sexy without laughing out loud? Join me this Christmas season by doing one or more of the following things and become One Hot Mama.

• Go out to a fancy restaurant (or not so fancy) with your hubby, ask for a corner table and with your back to the restaurant crowd, take off your coat and reveal a little (or a lot) of lace or low cut blouse for your husband’s eyes only. He won’t even know what to do! But I guarantee he’ll see you as One Hot Mama.
• Go to Victoria’s Secret or other intimates boutique (if you’re a plus size beauty, then head to Lane Bryant) and buy a red bra and panties. Wear them under your clothes. As you pass your husband in the kitchen, show him a little bit of the red stuff…and then keep on doing what you’re doing. He’ll be back for another look, I promise!
• Wear red pumps with an all-black outfit.
• Wear more makeup than usual. Add bold red lipstick to your hot mama look.
• Buy a pair of great fitting jeans, wear a pair of heels and add a velvet blazer and satin blouse.
• Throw out ALL your old, ratty underwear and buy all new. Forget the granny panties, go for boy cut, thong or bikini. Buy lace or satin.
• Wear matching sets when it comes to bras and panties. Wear all black, all leopard print, or all zebra print. Oo La La!
• Send your children out for the evening and make a romantic dinner at home. Be daring in your choice of outfit for the evening and wear a short skirt, heels and pretty blouse. Way to be spicy, hot mama!

If you don’t think Christians should be hot mamas, you might want to read the Song of Songs. The setting of this book in the Bible takes place around 965 B.C. and is the storybook romance and steamy dialogue between two God-fearing passionate lovers.

“How beautiful your sandaled feet, O prince’s daughter! Your graceful legs are like jewels, the work of a craftman’s hands. Your navel is a rounded goblet that never lacks blended wine. Your waist is a mound of wheat encircled by lilies.” Song of Songs 7:1-2 NIV  

It goes on to describe her breasts, neck, eyes, nose, and head. If the Bible discusses such things, shouldn’t it be okay to look at ourselves as hot mamas and be confident in the way we see our bodies? If you need to wear some fancy, red underwear to get the ball rolling, then do it.

Keep in mind that God did NOT make a mistake with your body, it’s society that has us completely messed up in the way we see ourselves. Come out of your shell. Have some fun with how you dress around your husband, in private, and begin to see yourself as worthy, beautiful and yes, One Hot Mama!

Shari Braendel

*Join me over at my Pinterest board One Hot Mama for more ideas!