Eight Inches and More on Hair

(This picture is for my mom and my mom-in-love and my other friends who are not on Facebook. I got eight inches cut off. Last summer I got ten inches cut off and no one could tell the difference.)

I’m appreciative of all your loving comments about Mikah’s hair and our choice to allow him to let it grow. It is his choice, I don’t know if I’ve mentioned that. A sweet friend of mine emailed me with some reasons why she thought other Christians might differ from us in their choice to keep a boy’s hair short. It seems to me that most of the reasoning behind having a boy cut his hair is so others will not think he is feminine, nor will the boy be encouraged down the road to femininity.

I appreciated being able to read a balanced, loving explanation, as offered through my friend’s gracious words. I am going to share some further thoughts I wrote back to her in response; some particulars changed to fit this general setting and discussion.

There are many styles of masculinity and many styles of femininity. My family prefers not much adorning at all, no matter whether man or woman. We don’t prefer the girls to fluff up and add frills in clothing or hair. And at times others have mentioned that we are not encouraging the girls to be feminine enough. Yet my girls are feminine. Our men don’t prefer many of the masculine adornments that some in our culture fancy – camouflage, certain styles of clothing, suits/ties, etc. Yet Mikah and Jeff are manly.

See, I think the point, with regard to God’s plan for our choice in personal adornments, is to consider: are you (in general) trying to be something you’re not — if a man, are you trying to be a woman? If you’re a woman, are you trying to be a man? Clothes and hair styles change, and people’s preferences come into play. I believe we should look more at the person and their heart, rather than some outward features, or whether or not a person is adorned enough to fit in with what society determines is masculine or feminine.

Our family, rather than looking at society-appropriate adornments, looks primarily at function and comfort. (And we balance that with the person’s style preferences.) Many of our society’s current men’s and women’s adornments are neither functional nor comfortable. This is not to say that short hair isn’t functional or comfortable – it is the height of both! But if a person wants to grow their hair out, whether a man or a woman, why not allow that while encouraging manageability and good personal hygiene (as well as can be done with an 8-1/2 year old boy!).

So, I feel that we – both men and women in our family – are somewhat misunderstood. Not by our friends necessarily, but by people who take one look and make a quick judgment.

Back to Mikah’s hair, the irony is that when people see Mikah’s hair and don’t like it, they could be thinking one of two things: 1) we’re letting him be feminine, or 2) we’re too modern. Neither of these assumptions make sense, if people would look a little deeper. A deeper look at Mikah shows a boy who is all boy and who loves God and his family with all his heart. I can’t think of anything else that matters much.

This may be a little tongue in cheek, but I think if God really wanted people’s hair to be a certain length, He would have created it not to grow past that point — OR — He would have created scissors when He created man! He didn’t do either.

So those are more of my thoughts, which I offer in love to my friends and family far and wide. Much love to you all! If the Lord leads, please feel free to add your own thoughts.