Hello lovelies! This week is the third installment of a new blog series called Titus Two Tuesdays. According to Titus 2:3-5, we can learn much from godly women who are older than us. Each Tuesday, I’ll interview a godly lady and ask her some important questions. I’m so excited to learn from these ladies along with you! Our guest this week is Stéphanie St-François. I love following her modest fashion account on IG @modest.oui because she has a fantastic sense of style and shares affordable, chic outfits. She’s a fellow French Canadian (with a great sense of humour) and I feel privileged to call her a friend! In this post, she has tips for both married and single women, secrets for shopping on a budget, and more. She and her daughters are also modelling some oh-so-chic outfits!
Keep reading for Titus 2 Tuesdays with Mrs. Stéphanie St-François.
Q: How did you come to accept Christ as your Saviour?
I grew up in a Christian home and gave my heart to Jesus when I was 10. But, when I was about 14, I started having a lot of doubts about my faith and began earnestly searching and praying for answers. At one point, I told the Lord, “Either You show me the truth, or I quit.” I couldn’t keep going to church and living the outward life of a Christian without being 100% sure of my beliefs. A few months passed, and one day, as I was sitting in a service, God spoke to me in a still, small voice,and took all my doubts away. My burden was lifted right there and then and I have truly believed ever since.
Q: How did you and your husband meet?
My husband and I have never met…because we always knew each other! We grew up in the same church, and our parents were friends. We started to like each other when I was 14, but my father thought I was too young (which I completely agree with now that I have two daughters!) and forbade us to see one another, or even talk, except in a group. We didn’t listen very well, and as a result, I spent most of my teenage years grounded for having met him in secret or for getting friends to pass notes and letters! We were allowed to date officially when I turned 17, and we got married the week after I turned 18.
Q: What advice would you give to young ladies who are looking for Mr. Right?
My advice for ladies looking for Mr. Right is simple: don’t look for him! God has already picked the perfect man for you. I know it’s easy for me to say, because I got married so young. But the Bible tells us that “the steps of a good man [or woman] are ordered of the Lord.” (Psalms 37:23) Just surrender your life to God and He will direct your path. It is IMPOSSIBLE for you to miss your soulmate if the Lord is leading you!
Q: How do you dress fashionably on a budget?
I stick to my budget! I try to be disciplined and intentional. I remind myself that there are, and always will be, only 7 days in a week and I don’t need to fill my closet unnecessarily. I do most of my shopping online and buy where I can get free shipping and free returns. I usually don’t purchase unless it’s on sale. If it isn’t, but it’s something I really want or need, I’ll keep the receipt and get a price adjustment once it’s at a discount. I try to buy things that go with clothes I already own.
I like to shop off season to get the best prices possible, but I don’t stock up either because trends change rapidly. I tend to pay less for clothes that are super trendy, but allow myself to pay a bit more for staple or classic pieces. A good trick is not to spend more dollars on an article of clothing than the number of times you think you’ll wear it. For example, if you pay $30 for a skirt, then you should expect to wear it at least 30 times.
Q: What are your favourite tips and tricks for staying modest?
Dress in the way you would want other women to dress around your husband/boyfriend/future husband or boyfriend. Wear a good tank top under shorter, thinner shirts or scoop necks, and leggings under your skirt to exercise (if you’re a skirt-wearing gal!) Don’t forget that modesty isn’t just the way you dress, but it’s also the way you carry and hold yourself.
Q: What advice or encouragement would you like to share with other married women?
I have three tips to share with married women. First, don’t sweat the small stuff. Second, don’t sweat the small stuff. And finally, don’t sweat the small stuff! Ask yourself, “Is this going to matter in an hour? And if so, how terrible is it on a scale of one to ten?” In other words, let’s just pick up the dirty clothes lying a few feet from the laundry bin and save our breath for issues that are more important. There’s no shortage of those anyway!
Q: Any final words of advice you’d like to share?
My final words of advice would be these: remember that the world’s definition of an “empowered woman” is different from God’s. Be bold in your faith. Be strong in your convictions. Stand up for what is right. But don’t sacrifice the qualities that God values for the sake of fitting society’s mold. The Bible tells us that Jesus Christ is “the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8) In 2020, the Lord still wants us to be kind, gentle, humble, forgiving, patient, compassionate, and so forth. He’s the One we should strive to please. He has laid out what we ought to be like in His Word and that should remain our standard.
Closing Thoughts (from Claudine):
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading Stéphanie’s post as much as I did! I appreciated her encouragement for single ladies and how she shared Psalm 37:23 because I love that verse. If we are truly following God, He will direct our steps–not just for a future mate, but in every decision we face. I also LOVED her tips on shopping on a budget! I’ve totally got to try some of those tips.
Let’s continue learning from the godly women in our lives. Stay tuned for next week’s Titus 2 Tuesday, and don’t forget to check out Stéphanie’s IG account @modest.oui!
And please comment below and share what you learned from this post. 🙂
Love,
Claudine
