When I was in highschool our youth pastor showed a video in Sunday school one morning. A rose was passed around the room and everyone took one petal. When it got down to the front every petal was gone. It went from a beautiful rose to something that looked sad and used up. The analogy was made that everytime you are 'with' someone (either intimately or emotionally) you give a little bit (or alot) of yourself away to that person. It's funny that I remember that one lesson out of the four years I was in the youth group...that was 20 years ago...it made a big impression. My momma also told me that when ever you kiss someone, you are kissing everyone they've kissed......GROSS!!!!!!!! Parents use funny scare tactics sometimes!
Barry and I want to raise our children with a different perspective of dating and relationships than what we had. We want to take it to the 'next level' so to speak...the best level, actually...the Biblical level. God began dealing with our hearts to teach our children (which we only had 3 at the time) not to play the dating game. It has ruined SO many lives!! There is alot of pressure from the world to have a boyfriend or girlfriend at such early ages. Why would we want our children to focus on this? Look at the divorce rate, teen pregnancy, and the amount of abortions...dating is just laying the floor plan for these unnecessary tragedies.
One day the Lord brought something to mind....kindof expounding on the 'rose' concept. You only have ONE first kiss....ONE first time that you hold hands...ONE first hug....and ONE first 'time'. Most people know where the Bible stands on the latter one...but what about the others? Read ICorinthians ch 7. It would be good to look up S.M.Davis and get his messages on courtship and dating! But this is what I came up with. Your heart is like a very special box. And everyone has been given these very special 'first things' that are in your special box. Who are you going to give them away to? You can only give them away once!!!! We are encouraging each one of our children to give them to their spouse on their wedding day! Can you imagine having saved EVERYTHING for your spouse instead of just one thing?
What if you haven't?! Repent and ask God's forgiveness and make a covenant with Him that from this day forward you will save yourself for your spouse! And God will give you back the years that the locusts have eaten!!!
Angela, we were discussing this very subject earlier this evening. I like your approach to this subject - a special box. Good idea! :)
ReplyDeleteWe love S.M. Davis' ministry. Even our children come out of their rooms when they hear his preaching on dvd. They usually end up sitting with us and watching all the way through. Now THAT'S saying something for his way of teaching, right? So glad God is using him as a vessel unto honor! ~ Lois Cornelio