“So,” I said to my friend as I perched on the edge of the hotel bed, “I’ve made the leap into ultimate freakdom. I’ve started covering my head full time.”
Those of you who know me (or have been reading my blog for awhile) know that I cover my head. For some time, I’ve wanted to share my story here, but I worried about how to do it. So often, Christians make little differences like this into litmus tests to decide who’s in their holiness club and who isn’t. And while I’m always thrilled to know other women who cover (even Muslim women and I have often exchanged special, knowing smiles), I want to make it perfectly clear that I can love you and respect you as my sister in Christ no matter what your position on headcovering.
Mat 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cumin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
My headcovering is my tithe of mint, so to speak. I fully accept that it is not one of the “weightier matters.” It is a million times easier to put a headcovering on when I fix my hair in the mornings than it is not to get irritated at my children. (Although, wearing the headcovering has often brought me up short when I am irritated because I realize that my children are looking at a tight faced woman with dagger-eyes, glaring at them under a covering, which is supposed to mark her as one who claims the name of Christ, and the ugliness of my rotten testimony has instantly quenched my fire.) But all in all, I recognize that there is infinitely more to the Christian life than covering your head, and if you’ve figured out how to rejoice always, conquered your irritation, or even learned to be a good steward of your time, you are way further along in holiness than I!
Why am I bothering to write this then, or even to cover my head at all? Because, “these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.” God still meant for His people to tithe their mint, and I cannot be intellectually honest with the Bible and not come to the conclusion that I am supposed to cover my head.
But it’s a strange practice today. And while it looks to me like headcovering is making a small comeback, there still aren’t that many of us who live this way, and because of that, though it is a small matter, I wanted to try to tell my story and explain my position in hopes of encouraging others who are on this path and of helping those who aren’t to understand a little better their covering sisters.
This journey began in my aunt and uncle’s fifteen passenger van in Grand Rapids. I was fourteen years old. The young man who would someday be my husband was sitting on the bench seat behind me. He was sixteen. We had just met me the night before. As we drove towards church Sunday morning, my aunt turned around in her seat, an assortment of headcoverings in her hand, “The women at our assembly wear little mantillas…”
The Christian practice of headcovering comes from I Corinthians 11:3-16. I’ve included the full text at the end of this post, but here is a taste.
“But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head…let her be covered” (1 Corinthians 11:5a and 6b).
When we got to church, I put on a mantilla. I saw my reflection in the van window. Intriguing. A strange feeling of protection, of being special. And the young man I’d just met was so adamant that the Bible taught this. Why hadn’t I ever learned about this?
The most common argument I hear against headcovering is that the passage is actually talking about long hair, not some sort of veil or hat. (If you want to read a very scholarly exposition of the passage and refutation of this idea and others, read my father-in-law’s article.) The reason that I cannot personally adopt this interpretation is that verse 6 does not make any sense with this reading. If you follow the “long hair” logic, you would be “covered” if your hair were long, and “not covered” if your hair were short. Verse 6 talks about not being covered. If we insert “have short hair” for “be not covered” in this verse, we get “For if the woman have short hair, let her also be shorn (have short hair).” How can you “also” have short hair if you already have short hair? The passage only makes sense to me if it’s talking about two things: long hair and a headcovering.
Young Mr. Parunak and I fell in love within the week. I returned home to my family in Oregon, my beau and I spanning the distance with letters and phone calls, headcovering being a common topic as I wrestled through this new idea.
Another common argument is that headcovering was just a cultural issue at Corinth. I’ve heard all kinds of ideas on how this was the case, the most bizare being that the Corinthian women were actually taking off all their clothes at church, and that since they started with their headcoverings, what Paul was actually saying here is that they should quit stripping. I haven’t been able to make peace with this view either. For starters, while 1 Corinthians was written to the church at Corinth, it was also written to “all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours” (1 Corinthians 1:2), so its teachings are for everyone, and its commands are binding on any believer regardless of home city or culture.
But the biggest reason, I can’t convince myself of the “culture at Corinth” argument is that the Bible never says, “Cover your head so the people at the market place don’t think the wrong things about you,” or even, “Cover, so your brothers and sisters don’t think the wrong thing.” It says, “For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels” (1Corinthians 11:10). The culture at work here is not Corinthian culture at all; it’s angelic culture. I don’t know anything about angelic culture, so if God says that He wants me to do something for His angels to see, in my mind, I simply have to do it, no questions asked.
A circle of lace from the fabric store, edged with a narrow, ruffled band, held on with a hat pin. My mind was made up, but my heart was beating in my ears. What would people think? Would anyone say anything to me my first time at my home church in a headcovering? It’s hard to be different. But I didn’t have a choice. I was starting to believe this, and as it turned out, no one said a word.
Some people say that headcovering is just “too weird.” Women won’t want to become Christians if it means they have to put some funky cloth on their heads. This argument is based on 1 Corinthians 9:22 “I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. ” And it’s a good thing to keep in mind when we’re talking about things that we think up on our own. It’s a very valid reason not to wear a fake rhinoceros horn on the end of your nose, for example. But it’s not really a good reason to throw out commands that God gives us. Christians are called to do a lot of things that make us look weird, like saving sex for marriage, not getting drunk, or loving people who hate us. Would anyone seriously say, “I need to take up prostitution, so I don’t look too weird to the prostitutes I’m trying to reach,” or even, “I need to start gossiping, so the women I have coffee with will know they can become Christians and still be normal.” If God tells us to do something, we have to do it, even we look weird.
Eventually, I became known as “the girl who always wears hats.” I covered at church and college group functions, and I covered whenever I had my devotions. But gradually, I began to notice something. When I finished my devotions, I didn’t want to be “done.” I wanted the closeness with the Lord to continue, the prayer lines to stay open. I wanted the ease of just talking to the Lord whenever I wanted to without the hassle of getting my covering out again. I would have devotions and want to leave my headcovering on while I pulled out my textbooks. Before long, I had simply fallen into covering my head all the time in my dorm room. When I graduated, and became Mrs. Parunak, I covered all the time when I was at home alone, but quickly yanked my headcovering off when Mr. Parunak arrived home because I was just “sure” that he preferred me uncovered if we weren’t actually at church or praying together.
It strikes me as odd how many men there are who still take 1 Corinthians 11 seriously when it comes to NOT praying with their heads covered. They’ll take off their hats in a rain storm or the blazing sun to pray, and they would never, ever approve of a preacher getting up to pray before a congregation with a hat on his head. Yet these very same men seem completely oblivious to their wives praying uncovered. “1 Corinthians is talking about hair!” they’ll say, while I quietly wonder why, if that’s true, they still feel they need to take their hats off to pray since the hair under those hats is quite short.
It was on the road again, but this time it was our own little car, and we were on our way home from church, rather than driving to church. I was recounting to Mr. Parunak how I had told my friend about how much I wanted to cover full-time, but how I wasn’t doing it because I knew my husband wouldn’t like it. He said, “What ever gave you that idea?” That night, we went over 1 Corinthians 11 again. It really did seem to be saying that women should have their heads covered when they pray. That, coupled with the fact that we are to “pray without ceasing” (1Thessalonians 5:17), convinced us to go ahead and have me start. I was so excited.
Today, I wear a long kerchief style covering (looks a bit like our Charity sisters, if you’re familiar with them), and I love it so much. It’s still hard sometimes to be different. But oddly enough, it’s much harder among other Christians than out in the world. Strangers have visibly softened. I’ve noticed a gentleness and respect from a lot of people that I hardly ever saw when I tried to look more “normal” out in public. It’s made me more aware of my testimony out in public, too, because I know people are watching. And for someone who believes 1 Corinthians 11 means what I believe it does, full-time covering is a luxurious relief, freeing me to pray any time throughout the day without having to worry about whether my hands are covered with raw meat, bread dough, or garden dirt, or busy with laundry or babies, and unable to grab a headcovering at that moment.
And that is my story, a glimpse inside the head of a genuine oddity, a freak, but a convicted freak, and a happy one. That’s the view from under my veil.
***
1Co 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.
1Co 11:4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.
1Co 11:5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.
1Co 11:6 For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.
1Co 11:7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.
1Co 11:8 For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man.
1Co 11:9 Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.
1Co 11:10 For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.
1Co 11:11 Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.
1Co 11:12 For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God.
1Co 11:13 Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?
1Co 11:14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?
1Co 11:15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.
1Co 11:16 But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.
September 6th, 2008 at 8:39 am
Mrs. P, thank you for sharing this. I really enjoyed reading your story. I now have more knowledge and appreciation of headcovering.
September 6th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Hello. Thank you for sharing this testimony. Would you be able to provide me with some resources for purchsing or making some headcoverings??
God Bless You… and congratulations on your pregnancy, too.
September 6th, 2008 at 6:26 pm
What a step to make! I think if I was to do this, my prayer life and communion with Christ would be healthier.
September 6th, 2008 at 11:53 pm
Love your story.. I was just about to buy a fake rhinoceros horn and wear it full time. Thanks for stopping me before it got out of control. LOL. For real, you guys are awesome. The only reason I do not do it EXACTLY the way you do is because I see the context of those verses in the context of the local church gathering. I could be wrong. Anyway, we certainly have the right idea–covering our heads–as it sends the angels the right message. I wear my study cap/ covering / brain-squasher when I’m having a hard time concentrating– maybe I just want to be covered more too? I also wear it in the gym–goes nicely with my workout gear.
Now here’s a funny story. This just happened like last week. I was teaching a pilates class and one of my students is a PHD in an alternative medicine and also practicing “healing”. He gave me a pamphlet and was hoping to give me a free consultation. After consulting the Lord and the Scriptures, it was clear to me that I didn’t want to be involved. I was trying to decide whether I should just say “no thank you” or witness to him. So, a few weeks passed and we interacted again on the subject and the Lord gave tremendous courage and help to fully explain how Jesus is my God and healer.
In relating the incident to the folks at prayer meeting, my DH told the whole group.
One guy turned around and asked, “Yeah, but was her head covered?”
I just laughed. DUH. (He was joking)
September 8th, 2008 at 8:21 am
Suzanne,
There are many places online that sell headcoverings and patterns. Sadly, the lady that I used to order from has quit her business, but here is a site that links to most of the other headcovering businesses that I am aware of. The links are at the bottom of the sidebar. Scroll down past the text of 1 Cor 11. Hope you find some things you like!
September 8th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
You can also make one yourself by cutting out a circle or oblong and edging it with matching lace. If you don’t have a sewing machine, you can do it by hand in about a half an hour or less, and it will probably cost you under $3.00. I just have black one for winter and a white one for summer, but you can make all sorts of pretty colors to match your dresses too!
September 8th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
Thank you for sharing Andrea…so brave. I deeply respect your position and think headcovering looks lovely and can’t be a bad thing. Its nice to know some of the information behind your action.
September 8th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
Hello! I just stumbled upon your blog, and wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed it. You have made me think about headcovering as I never have before. Thank you!
September 8th, 2008 at 4:27 pm
Thank you! I really haven’t actually thought about the headcovering much, but that makes sense. Do you wear skirts all the time? I think I would like to try it for a week or something, but I don’t know if there are any verses that say you should, and I don’t know where to look. I don’t want to do it for the wrong reason. Thanks.
September 8th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
Joanna,
Hi! Nice to see you on my blog.
Yes, I do wear skirts almost all the time. I don’t when I think it would be immodest to do so (like when I’m exercising).
You might really enjoy Through the Week in Feminine Dress, in which you can see pictures sent in by several different ladies, showing how they go about their everyday lives for a week wearing skirts and dresses.
Now, as to whether there’s a Bible verse that says you should wear skirts and dresses all the time, the short answer is, there isn’t one. For the long answer (as well as the answer to the obvious next question: WHY in the world do you do it, then???) stay tuned…I’m working on a post about that. Lord willing, it will take shape, and I’ll send you an e-mail when it’s up.
September 9th, 2008 at 6:14 pm
Thanks for sharing your story. I am always curious about the thought process behind head coverings – it’s comforting to know that there is thought behind it!
September 10th, 2008 at 6:00 pm
A nice testimony and something I am struggling with.
September 10th, 2008 at 8:51 pm
Wow. This was very helpful. I am trying to get over the fear of what people think. What they really think. You have so much courage. I am blessed to have stumbled across this just as I was thinking of calling it quits with the head covering mission. Thank you.
September 11th, 2008 at 12:04 am
Well written and explained, not to mention a great testimony of how God is working things out in your life. I do see the passages you use in a different light than you (and others) have explained, but I always appreciate when Christians share their beliefs openly and with integrity – it is always encouraging.
September 13th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
Thank you for posting this! I have been convicted in the area of headcovering over the past few years and actually began at the end of last year…though have lapsed due to circumstances that have occurred this year in my life. But I still believe it and believe I should begin again. Anyways, loved hearing your testimony on this matter!
Also, fun to know you are a homebirther as well! I had my first in the hospital 10 yrs ago due to being a young single mother who didn’t even know about home births at the time! Then the last two and this one will be born in our room. Its just an amazing experience isn’t it? I’m so thankful the Lord has taken away my fear over labor for this one…I am not scared at all! He is SO GOOD!
September 13th, 2008 at 10:14 pm
Meghan,
That is so wonderful the way the Lord has blessed you in preparing for this labor! I hope you’ll post a birth story and let us all know how it went!
October 17th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
Mrs.Parunak,
Wow, I couldn’t have said it better. I started covering 1 year ago this month. I feel very blessed to know this wonderful commandment. Though at times Satan tries to make me think I’m crazy. How you stated it was exactly how I feel. Thank you for this wonderful article. It is a blessing to know God has shared this with others. Like you said I mostly get attacked by Christians which hurts so bad. Thank you again. May God bless you and your family.
Blessings,
Alisha
November 13th, 2008 at 4:25 pm
Wonderful article and responses. At age 53, I heard the call to “cover” and dress modestly/simply. Dusting off the ‘ol sewing machine, I’ve made a few dresses, head coverings & bought cape dresses on Ebay. Now, the printed cape dresses I wear to work. I haven’t gotten the courage up to were the “PLAIN” dresses. Sadly, yes, it is those closest to us that tend to make us feel like we’re losing our mind – in my case, in my old age! lol! But I know, I know, I know-God spoke to my heart that day when I read I Cor 11! I know it’s true. I feel such joy when I wear the covering. For now, it’s at home & church. Someday, I hope to be full time, but my husband feels it’s for church. I know God is doing something in his heart too. He wouldn’t call me without calling my husband too. Many blessings! Donna
November 22nd, 2008 at 12:58 pm
I hate to be so brief. Please excuse me. I used to cover, AND have long hair. In 1 Co. 11:15, in the Greek, it says “long hair is given to her for a covering INSTEAD OF A VEIL.” Look it up in the Greek Interlinear. I have very long hair as my covering, instead of a veil.
I wasn’t looking for an excuse not to cover. I happened to read it during a period of intent study on this passage many years ago.
The separate covering idea is one I used to abide by, but the “instead of a veil” verse is what convinced me.
Blessings,
Marci Putman
November 22nd, 2008 at 3:36 pm
Mrs. Putman,
Thank you very much for sharing your thought with me. I always want to be open to the correction and “iron sharpening” of my sisters in Christ.
In this case, though, I do think there’s a little more to the issue than the one Greek particle anti (the word translated “for” in v.15 in the KJV). You’re absolutely right that anti does mean (among other things) “instead of.” But it’s also important to look at what the long hair is actually given “instead of.” The word translated “covering” in v. 15 is peribolaion. Strong’s defines this as “something thrown around one, that is, a mantle, veil: – covering, vesture.” The word translated “be covered” in the whole rest of the chapter is katakalupto, a completely different word. Strong’s defines it as, ” to cover wholly, that is, veil: – cover, hide.”
My father-in-law has an interesting discussion of those two words in his article that I linked to in my post. Here’s an excerpt:
Further, I can’t get away from the argument that originally convinced me that long hair didn’t make sense as the covering discussed in the main part of the passage because v. 6 just doesn’t make sense with that reading. As I said in my post,
In Christ,
Mrs. Parunak
November 24th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
Thank you for posting about this! It’s so encouraging to read about someone else who \covers\ – I am the only woman I know who does this. At first it started just during Mass and during my prayer-time, but like you, I soon began covering all day for the same reasons…
November 25th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
Thanks so much for sharing your testimony! I just found your site through LAF. We seem to have a lot in common, including ages of our children with one more on the way! I’m part of a Mennonite church who has traditionally worn the head covering. Even though I believe strongly in the veiling (I do not do it just because it is expected of me) and I’ve seen much blessing through the years from wearing it – I still appreciate reading of other’s journey to wearing the veiling! Thanks for your openness! You’ve been a blessing!
December 7th, 2008 at 10:03 am
I was so glad to read this, and definitely plan to check out your father-in-law’s article. I’ve been covering my head for about three years now and it was definitely difficult for me in the beginning. One of the things that has helped me most in recent years is finding headcoverings that I actually LIKE to wear. I use scarves (the kind that go around your neck) for headcoverings and these can be found very inexpensively at practically any store. I probably have over 30 of them that I’ve acquired through the years, in all colors and patterns. Since headcoverings are a staple of my wardrobe, I appreciate the diversity scarves offer me. I’ve included a link below that offers step-by-step instructions for how to wear scarves as headcoverings, in case others are interested. The site also has scarves available, but I do find them much cheaper in department stores, Wal-mart, etc. Thank you again for your post… I was blessed by your story.
Scarf tying guide:
http://www.modestworld.com/free-rec.asp
December 11th, 2008 at 4:48 pm
I completely agree and relate with you, Mrs. Parunak. Here’s another convincing reason to cover full-time, as opposed to just corporate worship and/or prayer… this is an excerpt from an article written by Merle Ruth found here:
http://joshscottfamily.com/letherbecovered.htm
” Students of the Greek language have pointed out that the words of my text, “Let her be covered,” are in the present active imperative form, so that, by grammatical structure, it really means “let her continue to be covered.”
In relation to this question, I would conclude with these remarks. The veiled head does not necessarily signify that “here is a soul that is presently praying or prophesying.” Rather, it signifies that “here is a woman who seeks to honor God in all of life.” So, it’s not really a prayer veiling, but a woman’s veiling, worn to show that the wearer is in God’s order. Let’s think of it in those terms. Not a “devotional covering”. Not a “worship covering”. But a “woman’s covering”. A “headship covering”. That, I think, is the main thrust of the passage as a whole.
Again, let’s call attention to our text: “Let her be covered.” ”
Amen! Thank you for your beautiful articles.
December 11th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
Alyssa,
Thanks for the link to the Merle Ruth article! I read it, and it’s got a lot of very good things to say.
December 17th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
Thanks so much for your post. I always love reading how others came to the decision to cover and seeing the Biblical support for it. I also noticed some readers looking for where to buy headcoverings. My mom and I have an online store at Etsy if anyone is interested. God bless you!
Melissa : )
http://happyhomestead.etsy.com (Plain or fancy headcoverings, headbands, and more at an affordable price)
http://titus2wifeandmommy.blogspot.com (Christian resources for women about marriage, children, headcovering, and more)
http://atypicalchristianity.blogspot.com (Christian resource site)
December 27th, 2008 at 3:06 am
Although I am not a “coverer,” I appreciated reading this and understanding better why some women choose to cover. I have thought for some time that the head covering is figurative–referring more to the hierarchy within marriage. This does seem to make sense within the context of this passage, but at the same time, when I looked up the original Greek, it did seem to line up with your position. I definitely don’t buy into a lot of the “It was cultural” arguments. I feel like it’s a slippery slope–how do we determine what is cultural, and what is of God? The whole idea just doesn’t make a lot of sense to me. Anyway, it looks like I have a lot of reading and praying to do on this issue!
January 3rd, 2009 at 5:36 pm
Hello there, I am enjoying your blog! Hope you dont mind my visits!!
You wrote in this post: How can you “also” have short hair if you already have short hair?
Shorn is the past tense for shear, like when sheep are shorn, ALL their wool is cut off not just some of it. It would compair to us being bald, which usually is a bad thing, now in our culture anything goes. (dont know if you know or even remember the whole brittany spears thing where she went whacko, got a bunch of tatoos, went after the paprazzi with a bat and shaved her head)
I do not cover my head because I believe my husband is my head and Christ is the head of my husband. I think that Paul was just using hair/headcoverings as a physical example to teach the spiritual example of submission. However, I know thats what I read from it. Believe me, if God would convince me otherwise, I’d do it.
January 3rd, 2009 at 8:49 pm
Jennifer,
Thanks for your comment. I’m so glad you are enjoying my blog. I’m very happy to have you!
The word “shear” means to cut with “shears,” or scissors. It means to cut hair very short, but it isn’t the same as making a woman bald. That would be “shaving” her head. This is actually mentioned, too. The end of verse 6 says, “but if it be a shame for a a woman to be shorn (have her hair cut short) or shaven (have it all removed), let her be covered.”
It is quite true that your husband is your head. But notice that this is the reason for the external covering, not the covering itself. You’re absolutely right that submission is at the root of all this, but I’m not sure that having our hearts right in the main area means that we can ignore a secondary command. It’s kind of like Jesus asking us to take communion in remembrance of Him. I would be uncomfortable saying, “I remember the Lord’s death for me every day, so I don’t think it’s necessary for me to partake of physical bread and wine. Those are just symbols to teach a spiritual truth.”
Thanks again for visiting.
Blessings!
January 5th, 2009 at 9:16 am
Hi again! Some good thoughts, thank you for sharing, I will keep stopping by, you have some great stuff here!
April 2nd, 2009 at 4:12 pm
I suddenly feel that I have to cover my head but family hate it and are mean to me. I have therefore decided to wear wide alice bands that are made from cotton. Thanks for this page it’s made me more determind to continue. I have only been covering for three days now lol. Do you think this is ok to use as a cover. thanks (please email me if you you have amy help)
April 3rd, 2009 at 10:45 pm
Miranda,
I just sent you an e-mail, but I thought I’d respond here, too, just to be thorough.
I would not ordinarily consider an alice band to be the best choice for head covering just because they don’t really cover all that much. However, I think it is very important to consider the opinions of your spiritual head in this matter because your spiritual head (husband or father) is the one the Bible says is dishonored if you don’t cover your head. You say that your family hates headcovering and is mean to you about it. Meanness is never a reason to lower our standards, but if the ones who “hate” headcovering are in God-given positions of authority over you, then their opinions and preferences MUST be considered. And if alice bands are something that your authorities can live with, then I think they are a good compromise.
April 4th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
thankyou for the email. My wide headband that I’m using is cotton and can be pulled down so that it covers the top of my head and goes half way down the back of my head. For now this is a good compremise as my husband is ok with that. Thanks again.I have also got bandanas but haven’t gotten used to them yet.
June 26th, 2009 at 10:42 pm
I have recently started covering my head and feel the same way as you. I love to leave it on all day as I find myself praying off and on all day long and it’s easier to leave it on. I converse with God so much it’s senseless to take it off.
No I don’t know any other women in my area that cover, but I’m starting to see some online that do. I sometimes feel so alone in this but I’m able to go it alone.
I live around amish who cover and i’ve noticed even they look at me odd-now isn’t that odd?
I love your blog and your posts and thank you for sharng your story with us.
Hugs and God Bless
July 12th, 2009 at 2:01 am
Thank you for posting this! This is exactly how I feel and how I hide out at home covering my head until I go out! I totally can’t believe someone else has done this.
July 14th, 2009 at 10:42 am
Very interesting post….My head is covered all the time too. With my uncut hair. My God bless you and keep you.
July 17th, 2009 at 8:56 am
Dear Mrs. Parunak
I just wanted to let you know, that your testimony has after a long time of praying and studying the scriptur given me the final conviction to start with full-time headcovering. Thank you so much! I also appreciate all the other topics on your precious blog! May God bless you and your family richly! Love, Leonie
July 17th, 2009 at 3:44 pm
Leonie,
Praise the Lord! I’m so delighted to have been able to share something that was useful to you. May you be richly blessed in your headcovering journey.
July 26th, 2009 at 7:04 am
I’ve recently been reading your blog and just came across this entry about the headcovering. I too attend a church that wears the mantillas. I don’t cover full time, but I do think about it from time to time. Thank you for sharing your testimony.
August 19th, 2009 at 6:09 pm
I loved reading this post. I also cover just for the last few months. I’m getting a lot of slack from my mother and sister over this, they have even called me sacreligious. Im so hurt. They only believe hair is the covering and nothing will open their minds. they say I’m completely wrong and nt understanding tings right. It’s good to know there are others out there who believe as i do. thanks for postig
September 4th, 2009 at 3:06 pm
What a blessing it was for me to read this! I love the way you put it into perspective with “not to leave the other undone”. I was taught to cover growing up, and still do it today. How can I do otherwise, if God has said I ought to? It makes me sad when I see my friends and sisters in Christ taking it off, and then it just refreshes my soul to read someone’s testimony like yours, who came to the conviction of covering without growing up in a culture where it was expected. Very well written!
September 12th, 2009 at 9:49 pm
WOW! Your story and understanding of the passage and defense of your position are so parallel to my own that I’m just baffled! And encouraged!
I covered full-time for a couple of years in college. My dad permitted me covering, though it seems he didn’t like it, since one day he asked me to NOT wear it at all times. So I obeyed him, since Scripture no where directly commands covering at all times.
I, too, learned about covering from my husband (and his family)–when we were just friends! Now that we are married, I still don’t cover at all times–my husband likes to see my hair, both at home and in public. We believe the command applies when in the activities of praying or prophesying. And I believe it is better to wear it more often so that I don’t have to pull it out at awkward moments, and so I’m free to pray and speak of the Lord throughout the day. My current practice is not in line with my beliefs, though. I’ve been more afraid of people lately and have not worn the covering very often (I also think this is indicative of my heart, that “weightier” matter…).
Your article was so encouraging and helpful–especially since you didn’t just say “the Bible commands to wear a covering at all times” (which I don’t believe it does), but you showed how a heart that loves the Savior wants to be communicating with Him at all times and ready to share Him with others…so WHY NOT cover at least most of the time? That’s how it hit me anyway. So thank you!
God bless!
Lauren
September 15th, 2009 at 8:45 am
Just wanted to thank you for such a well written and well researched post. My husband and I have been praying and seeking the Lord on headcovering for the last two years. I began with just covering during our Church meetings. Recently, however, my husband has expressed that he would likek me to cover daily. I, too, have had to work through \what will others think\, but I do find that when wearing my covering I feel not only closer to the Father but my husband as well. There is a certain feeling of protection that comes over me. I too plan on blogging about this. I have so much family that already finds me \weird\. This will be just one more factor in the \weirdness pot\.
I just have to keep reminding myself that it’s not about me – it’s all about Him and His glory!
September 25th, 2009 at 8:07 am
Hi, Thanks to your encouragement, after about 15 years of wrestling with the issue I finally made the leap to full time covering. It has been somewhat difficult but very positive. The effect that it has had on our family is amazing.
My husband and I have always had a very strong, happy marriage. However, I have more often than not been perfectly willing to nag, lecture, criticize him if I saw a problem that I thought needed correction. This has been especially true when it comes to what I perceive to be his lack of leadership. However, since committing to full time covering (I’ve covered at church for years), I have seen an amazing change in both my attitude and his. The most recent example came yesterday.
Our teenaged son has been giving me a lot of problems about helping out around the house. I had asked my husband to talk to him, he forgot to. He was at work when I found this out and I took a deep breath, ready to pounce on him, BUT THE HOLY SPIRIT STOPPED ME. I’m not saying the Spirit hasn’t tried to stop me in the past, but this time I listened. So I chose to remain quiet. About 30 minutes later I woke my son, who greeted me with the most cheerful, helpful attitude I have seen in a very long time. This stayed with him all day. I called my husband back to report this and he told me that (without me saying anything) he had prayed and asked God to touch our son’s heart.
I wanted to share this major blessing with you because it was through your good encouragement that God gave me that courage to finally “go all the way”. God Bless You for your ministry.
Susan
September 25th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
Susan,
Praise the Lord! Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful story with me. I’m so thankful to have been able to encourage you.
October 4th, 2009 at 9:32 am
Hi I had posted a blog a while ago, I was trying to cover full time, but got so much flack of my husband and my mum, that now I only cover when I’m at church. they said I looked asian, we live in england, my husband was in the army. So I keep praying and I now wear an alice band of various widths everyday, as my pledgee to God that I will cover my head. It’s not great but it’s a personla testimony to myself that I know it’s right to cover.
love and prayers
miranda
October 12th, 2009 at 4:19 pm
Hi again. I just read this article, but didn’t have time to read through all of the comments which might answer my question. I’ve never heard about women wearing head coverings now a days, and am quite curious. Do I really have to have my head covered to pray? I never cover my head now, does that somehow hinder my prayers. I’m very curious about this. Thanks for any advice, clarification you could give.
October 12th, 2009 at 6:44 pm
it’s in corinthians 1:11 Gods asks us to cover when we pray. The angels like to see us covered because they know we are obaying God. I’m still trying to talk my family into letting me cover fully but there pretty racist. However in church I do cover with a scarf like a hijab. Don’t care what they think I’m comphy in it. I’m catholic and have been told not to by sisters but the priest said that it was fine.
October 12th, 2009 at 9:24 pm
Ashlee,
Thanks for your comment!
“But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head” (1 Cornithians 11:5). The only reading that makes sense to me is that we’re supposed to cover our heads when we pray. People make cultural (and other) arguments against that position, but these seem dangerous to me.
As for your prayers being hindered in some way by NOT covering your head when you pray, this isn’t what the passage teaches. It says that a woman who prays uncovered is dishonoring her head. That is the danger. The hindrance is no more or less than the hindrance caused by any disobedience. Our prayers are hindered any time we are out of line with what God wants for us, whether it’s lying, coveting, gossiping, or dishonoring our heads through failure to cover when we pray.
November 1st, 2009 at 12:38 am
That also along with the 1 Thessalonians verse you mentioned are what convicted me to cover. Thanks for sharing your testimony. I’m glad you have a supporting, Christian husband.
December 2nd, 2009 at 5:16 pm
Thanks for the story. I’m a Muslim convert who is deciding to cover my head for God but for the silliest of reasons (peoples reactions) I’m scared. Why must it be so contriversial? I’m most nervous about my family. They are not religious at all so this will be hard for them. I’ve been meeting many women who’ve gone through the same thing and their stories are courageous. A funny word to use for just covering your head but to go out into the world and doing something out of the norm does take courage. Thanks for the extra courage you’ve given me!
December 18th, 2009 at 12:00 pm
What a thought-provoking piece – thank you, Mrs. Parunak!
I cannot say enough good things about wearing a headcovering, ladies. I’ve worn one at Mass for quite some time now, and other women and girls in the parish have “picked up” on the idea as well. I know I was pleasantly surprised at how positive the reactions were (all glory and praise to the Lord!)
Yet, the idea of wearing a covering in our home had never occurred to me . . . I am looking forward to finding out what my husband’s thoughts are.
On this topic . . . if anyone needs a chapel veil, I purchased mine from Immaculate Heart Mantillas.
http://www.lffa-ollmpc.com/ihm/index.html
(I am not at all affiliated with that site, but did have an excellent experience with Susan, who made my veil and sent it to me.)
January 26th, 2010 at 10:38 pm
As so many have stated before me, this post has been such an encouragement! I’ve been drawn towards covering since I was a young teen, but I’ve only begun three days ago. Right now I’m wearing it at church and at home and (this is embarrassing) out in public when I don’t think I’ll see people I know. Yeah, I’m one of those. I’ve been ridiculed and criticized for years (especially recently) by those closest to me about all the various oddities in my life, and I’m dreading their reaction. Your post has pushed me this much closer to taking a leap of faith and covering full-time. My husband approves and is excited, but he does not want to push me. Thanks again! Looking forward to perusing some more of the articles/sources you referenced.
February 17th, 2010 at 7:35 pm
enjoyed the disscusion so much i just started covering my family (not saved) thinks im crazy yeap! crazy for my Saviour!
February 17th, 2010 at 11:02 pm
Cindy,
Praise the Lord! Thank you for taking the time to write and let me know what God is doing in your life. I hope you’ll come visit me over at my new site:
http://pursuingtitus2.com