If you’re beginning to suspect that your child has become sexually active, or you have the evidence, it’s good to take some time to address your feelings and your fears for your child before you talk to him. It’s true [...]]]>  

If you’re beginning to suspect that your child has become sexually active, or you have the evidence, it’s good to take some time to address your feelings and your fears for your child before you talk to him. It’s true that your son may have already blew through your stop signs but taking the time to deal with your feelings will help you prepare and make good choices as you talk with your son.

A great starting point for the conversation is to ask good and specific questions and leave the accusations someplace else. Invite your child to share what’s been going on. You may have to reveal your evidence. It’s going to be an uncomfortable talk for both of you and it could become tense but if you remain calm and soft, it will help keep the door open for you to show you are a parent who cares about your child regardless of his behavior.

Once you’ve gotten the facts, continue to stay far away from body language and words that will imply rejection. You may be deeply disappointed and worried. You may feel betrayed. Those are real feelings and you can tell your son those feelings but make sure the anger or shock is tempered. Communicate without rejecting.

Possibly your child will show regret. He may be torn with the pleasure of what he now knows and doesn’t know how to stop what’s happening. You have the chance to let him know there are now different choices ahead. If he’s willing, make up a contract, a plan with clear expectations and guidelines to give him a strong direction in renewing his purity.

Now’s a good time to talk about friendships, too. Is your son hanging around people who help or hinder him? This is a conversation that can give him the courage and strength to move away from friendships that bring him down. Help him to see that who he dates is important and ask him to make a list of characteristics he feels are important to look for in the people he dates.

It may be your child doesn’t agree with your beliefs and is adamant that you need to stay out of his life. If your child is unwilling to listen, it’s even more important that you keep your love of him separate from his actions. Clear expectations and guidelines are still important but in this case, you’ll be setting them out without the child’s participation and that is where your courage and follow through become the challenge. Know your boundaries and make the consequences clear.

You probably won’t have any trouble knowing how your son feels about his behavior and that’s why the preparation time is important. Think through the possibilities and your reactions and feelings that could come depending on how your son responds to your interest or disapproval.

We have all made mistakes. If you can share from your past—what you’ve learned and why you’re glad you learned it, your son will listen more than you know. Your son may feel ashamed and this is a great opportunity for you to let him know, mistakes don’t change your love.

Once you’ve talked it through, you know have an opportunity. Keep talking. Spend time with you son. Invite his friends along. Have his girlfriend over for dinner and let them both know you remember young love and help them see your someone who cares and can be trusted.

Your children’s mistakes plus your care in stepping in equals a great opportunity to understand and grow. You’ll become a wiser parent and you’ll learn a great deal about your son in the process.

Answer: Despite what you may read in the newspaper and hear on t.v., there is a growing body of research that confirms that programs like Willing to Wait decreases sexual initiation, increases abstinence [...]]]> Question: Does abstinence centered education work?

Answer: Despite what you may read in the newspaper and hear on t.v., there is a growing body of research that confirms that programs like Willing to Wait decreases sexual initiation, increases abstinence behavior among students who have been sexually active, and decrease the number of partners among sexually active teens.

Question: Are abstinence only programs really just giving kids a “just say no” message?

Answer: No. The message given by abstinence centered education has nothing to do with “only” and the message is so much more than “just say no”. Opponents of abstinence centered programs created the false perception of “abstinence-only” as a narrow and unrealistic approach. Abstinence education is overwhelmingly more comprehensive and holistic than other approaches and focuses on the real life struggles that teens face.

Abstinence centered education realizes that having sex can have a devastating affect not only on the reproductive system, but as research continues to show, that there are significant emotional, psychological, social, economic and education consequences. That’s why the Willing to Wait Program discusses how to identify a healthy relationship and avoid unhealthy relationships, developing skills to make healthy choices, skills to avoid inappropriate sexual advances, and why abstinence until marriage is optimal.

Question: I thought that students in an abstinence class couldn’t receive information about condoms and contraception!

Answer: Not true! Abstinence classes can explain the many different types of contraceptive choices and how they can reduce the risk of pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. However, the decision to allow the discussion of contraception into middle and high schools is a decision that is made by the Reproductive Health Committee or the school administration. The Willing to Wait Program provides lessons on contraception in schools that have approved it.

Many comprehensive sex ed curricula mislead students by providing humanly impossible prefect use protection rates for condoms, which give students a false sense of security. By contrast, abstinence programs give students the real-life protection rates that a condom and other contraceptive methods offer.

Question: What is the difference between abstinence center education and comprehensive sex education (CSE)?

Answer: There is a big difference between abstinence education and CSE. A major difference is how each approach regards teens. Abstinence education believes that teens can avoid sex. The discussions empower them to make healthy sexual choices, which is to abstain regardless of any previous sexual choices. By contrast, CSE assumes that teens don’t have the ability to delay sexual activity, so much of the time is spent talking about the use of condoms and contraception.

Abstinence education discusses many topics that confront teens, always within the contest of why abstaining is the best choice. While many CSE programs may include the term abstinence in their texts, the concept rarely provides anything more than a passing mention. On average, about 5% of their time is devoted to the abstinence message.

Question: How is the Willing to Wait Program funded?

Answer: The Willing to Wait Program does not receive any federal funding for programming in any of the schools where the program is taught. Willing to Wait is sustained by the generous donations of individuals, businesses, foundations and ministry organizations in our community. Willing to Wait is offered without cost to the schools in the greater Grand Rapids area.

Question: Is the abstinence message relevant for sexually active teens?

Answer: Yes! Sexually active teens receive the skills and positive empowerment to make healthier choices in the future. According to The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, among teens who have had sex, 55% of boys and 72% of girls wish they had waited.

Question: Is Willing to Wait medically accurate?

Answer: Yes. The Willing to Wait Program has held a high standard of accountability and is reviewed annually for medical accuracy. The Willing to Wait Program is also reviewed by medical doctors on a regular basis to insure that what is being taught to teens is researched based and medically accurate. The Willing to Wait Program is committed to providing accurate information to teens so that they are equipped to make the healthiest choice in their life and relationships.

Many CSE curricula regularly overstate the effectiveness of condoms, underestimate the risk of certain sexual activities, and imply that sex can be made safe and consequence-free as long as a condom is used.

Feb. 2012

Dear future soul mate,

I have waited for you my whole life and now am ready to give my treasure to you. I waited for you because I didn’t want the emotional baggage. I [...]]]> Cedar Springs Writing Challenge Winners

Feb. 2012

Dear future soul mate,

I have waited for you my whole life and now am ready to give my treasure to you. I waited for you because I didn’t want the emotional baggage. I also knew that God would want me, as his daughter, to wait for physical pleasure. Condoms have a failure rate of 14% and you still have a 50% chance of getting a STI. I didn’t want to have someone else’s baby. I want to have a baby with you. I want the baby to have your eyes and your handsome smile. Not the smile and eyes of the guy that I could have slept with that probably wouldn’t stay with me through the responsibility of a child. It’s been tough for both of us to stand up underneath the peer pressure to have sex. But at times, having stood up under it has made it easier to be with each other and love one another. I respect you and love you. I trust that you aren’t marrying me for sex. I want you to be the courageous man of our house and lead me and our children in the right path. Real loves waits. Baby we have real love. I’m ready to commit to you and I’m emotionally ready for an intense relationship.

With all my love, Your wife

Hey yo Paul,

You should wait because there are serious consequences for having sex bro. One is you can get disgusting diseases like herpes. And from some of the stuff you can get really sick. Did you know the failure rate of the condom is 15% when it comes to getting a girl pregnant. Make sure that you don’t put them in your wallet because that will make the failure rate worse.

You definitely don’t want to get a chick pregnant that’s for sure. Dude you know that people say pull out method, but that doesn’t work, it’s stupid and if the condom breaks that would suck because here comes the kid. You don’t want to go there. And all that guilt and the pressure you will have when you still have college to get through. Thanks for hearing me on this.

Your friend.

Dear Future Son,

I am writing this letter right now to give you some advice. I know that being a teen/pre-teen can be stressful, but I believe that you can overcome all of the pressure. Just follow the advice that I give you, and your teen years should be a breeze.

Pick good friends. Friends will sometimes be the people who tempt you the most, but if you pick good friends they won’t do that. If you are nice to everybody you will have a wide selection to choose from.

Also, wait to have a girlfriend. If you don’t have a girlfriend who will pressure you into having sex? Nobody will!

Another vital piece to having great teen years is to never have sex until you are married. You won’t have so much emotional baggage such as feeling used, feeling guilty and having a bad reputation. I love you and I can’t (but will) wait to meet you!

Love, Mom

Dear Future husband,

I have decided to wait on having sex until I marry you. There are any reasons why I have chosen this fate. One reason why is because the best sex is in marriage and I lonely want to be bonded to he one I am married to, which would be you. I wouldn’t want all the emotional baggage, guilt, memories, and comparison from other relationships. There would also be the chance of getting a STD like Chlamydia, Herpes, AIDS, or others. Not only do the side effect cause me to suffer, but other people I have sex with! Oh, and if I get pregnant….whew! My parents would kill me. Not literally, but my life would be trashed. School…gone, friends…gone, work/job…gone, and my life goes down the drain just like that! That’s why I have decided to wait and I hope you do too.

Yours Truly – your future wife

Dear Friend,

Since you told me that you’re going through a tough time and making tough decisions, here’s what I think you should do. Seems how your considering having sex with your girlfriend, I’m gonna tell you what I think about that decision. I think you should wait till you’re of legal age and get engaged to her. Then later you can get married to her, but the wrong decision to do is get engaged to her and have sex then. Once you get married to her and go on your honeymoon is when you should have sex with her.

Save sex for the one you get married to. Don’t just go around while you’re a teen or in high school and have sex with every girlfriend you have. Just wait til you get married before considering having sex with her.

Sincerely, your bud

Dear Friend,

You should wait to have sex until marriage because it is a serious issue. It’s not like you can snap your fingers and “bam”, you walk away like nothing happened! There are many of things that could happen – a baby, STIs, guilt and other negative feelings.

Please choose abstinence over some sex fling. If sex becomes the central focus of the relationship, like some sort of addiction then it would no longer be a meaningful relationship. Choose abstinence!

Your Friend

Dear Friend,

Seriously, you need to listen to me. I think you should wait to have sex with your boyfriend. Just look at everything that could go wrong. I mean do you really want to end up pregnant and with a baby while you’re still in high school? Or you could get one of those STI thingies and then imagine what your parents will say! You will lose their trust in you. Even if nothing like that happens, think of all the guilt you will feel, especially if you know your wouldn’t approve.

Really one little mistake like this one will ruin tons of things for you. Please listen to me. Don’t you want to wait to commit yourself to one man? You won’t have to constantly be reminded of your previous relationships comparing each one to another.

If he is pressuring you, remember the S.T.O.P. from the Willing to Wait class. Use it, you don’t have to be forced into this. All I want is the best for you , so make a good choice.

Love, Your Friend

Dear Future Daughter,

You should wait to have sex because it’s better for you. You don’t want to end up getting an STD or end up pregnant. I know if you ever did have sex you would keep it a secret from me, and then if you do that you would feel worried and nervous to ever talk to me thinking I would find out or you would spill it. But if you did do that how would you know if you got pregnant or got a nasty and disgusting STD.

You may think that most of the kids in your school have had sex, already, but mostly all of them are lying. You don’t want to make the biggest mistake of your life and have sex because a fairy won’t pop up and make you go back in time like in the movies.

I hope that you will listen to me.

Love, Mom

Dear future daughter,

I want to teach you about abstinence and why it is so important. Abstinence means to be willing to wait till marriage to have sex. It is so important to wait until you are married because you want your first experience to be positive and afterwards you want to be able to know that the next day he will still be there for you. Also, it is so much easier to say “no” to the guy then to say “I’m pregnant” to your parents. I also want you to know about the emotional baggage. If you have sex before you are married then you will feel things like guilt, fear and worry, loss of respect, memories and comparisons, feeling used and a poor reputation.

Love, Your Mom

Dear Future Husband,

I’ve decided to wait to have sex until our wedding night because I don’t want to have any major baggage or anything like that. I want to show you that I saved myself for you and I want to know you saved yourself for me too. If you wait, it will really show how much you love me and I love you. I don’t want to have sex and worry about getting an STD. I don’t want to worry about getting pregnant. I don’t want to be thinking of another person when I’m with you. I want to be married to you and not deal with the guilt of being with another person. I do not want to feel used and I don’t want to get hurt. I just want to wait! I just want to be mature enough and I hope you understand I really do. If you’re not willing to wait then I know you don’t love me.

Your future wife

Waiting. It’s a thing that I’ve been doing a lot of today: waiting for school to start (not eagerly of course), waiting for recess to be over so I can come in from the freezing outdoors, waiting [...]]]> Dearest son or daughter,

Waiting. It’s a thing that I’ve been doing a lot of today: waiting for school to start (not eagerly of course), waiting for recess to be over so I can come in from the freezing outdoors, waiting for the bell to ring so I can get out of math class and go to lunch, waiting for the principal to get my extremely stuck locker open, and waiting for the right answer to come to me for the grammar test. It can be challenging to wait, I know, but hang in there.

Also, aside from the trivial things that I have been waiting for today there is a more important thing that we all should wait for. I’ll get to that in a second. You see , for the past few weeks we have been taking an abstinence class called, “Willing to Wait.” As you may guess it is all about waiting until marriage to have sex.

As of now, I am not pressured to have sex, or even “go out” or date. I am glad that I have chosen such good friends. I hope that you choose as good of friends as I have. Here are a few pieces of advice for you:

1.) Always know that I love you, even though you are not yet born when I am writing this.
2.) Know that nobody is perfect, not you, and not me.
3.) Choose your friends wisely.

Love,
Mom

*************

Dear Future Husband,

I don’t know if we have met yet, but when we meet, I know it will be perfect. I want to keep myself pure for you. I want you to know that I am waiting to have sex until we get married.

The reason I am doing this is because I know that it is God’s Will for you and I, to not have sex before marriage. I also know that the temptation will be difficult to resist, but we can do it. That way when we get married, we won’t have to worry about STI’s or STD’s.

I know that you are a Christian too, and I hope that you are making the same choice that I am, because it is an awesome choice to make. Please make the commitment between yourself and God if you have not already.

I love you, even though I don’t know who exactly I am saying this to, but know that it is true. I can’t wait to meet you and see what God’s plan is for us.

Until we meet.

By the time you read this you will be about my age, 13. You’re reading this because I am encouraging you to choose abstinence. I chose abstinence, because I wanted my first time for having sex to be [...]]]> Dear Future Children,

By the time you read this you will be about my age, 13. You’re reading this because I am encouraging you to choose abstinence. I chose abstinence, because I wanted my first time for having sex to be with someone I love completely.

I hope you are willing to wait like I was, but if you choose to not wait I will be there for you. Yes, I will be mad at first, but I love you too much and will help you through it. I will not kick you out, send you on your own, and I would never make you take care of your own baby. You did know pregnancy is one of the possible consequences from sex. Some of the other consequences: I will not be able to trust you for a time. You may have some sleepless nights, because there may be some hard decisions to make. You may even have to deal with STI’s. Remember though you can tell me everything.

Your father will probably react differently, because he’s your dad, but we both love you so much.

Love,
Mom

*************

Dear Friend,

I just wanted to give you some advice about having sex before you get married. My advice is just because a person says they love you, doesn’t really mean they love you. They can say anything and it may be what you want to hear, but it may not be true.

If you then have sex, what if the condom fails? Your girlfriend gets pregnant and the truth comes out. Sometimes the truth hurts. Plus you run the risk of getting an STI.

Besides you don’t even know if you are going to be married to this person. No matter what you think it is most likely you guys will just end up not married.

The choice: do you want to suffer tough consequences or would you rather live a happier life knowing you waited?

I beg you dude just wait.

Love, Your best friend

The reason I have chosen to not have sex until I get married to you is that I don’t want to have any of that major baggage with me.

Also, I know that you have [...]]]> To my dear future wife,

The reason I have chosen to not have sex until I get married to you is that I don’t want to have any of that major baggage with me.

Also, I know that you have saved yourself for me so I want to save my body for you. I don’t want to come into the marriage with kids from previous relationships or with an STI. I don’t want to be a player because they are just wrong and I don’t want to be thinking of someone else when I am with you because you will be my wife and that means that I love you and I want to spend my whole life with you. That would be hard if I were with other people.

I truly hope that you will save yourself just like I am doing for you and I will wait as long as needed until I marry you.

Your future husband

**************

To my friend,

I advise you to not have sex because of STIs and stuff that can happen to your privates and can cause a lot of problems. So just wait! It would be the best thing to do. Trust me, I have gone to class for this stuff and have learned more about it!

Sincerely, your friend

*************

To my future wife,

Honey, I am waiting to get married then have sex. It’s because it will help us work out and be great between us. Just wait.

Love your future husband

*************

Dear son or daughter,

Life at my age is hard. Try not to get into many relationships because well it never works out as well as you wish it would. You should also wait for sex until you are married because you can get very bad infections. Please stay away from sex until you get married.

Love, Dad

Each day I see you are changing. You’re hanging out with your friends every week-end; usually past midnight. I call and call, but you never answer. I have been out looking for you, yet I can’t find out. I’m [...]]]> Dear Daughter,

Each day I see you are changing. You’re hanging out with your friends every week-end; usually past midnight. I call and call, but you never answer. I have been out looking for you, yet I can’t find out. I’m always so scared that something has happened to you. I lie in bed and wait until I hear you open the door and come inside. I want to talk to you, but I know you won’t tell me anything. Each time I bring this up you deny everything.

I’m just trying to help! I love you!

Mom

**************

To My Loving Daughter,

I’m writing you to let you know that you need to wait for marriage. Sex is the activity that brought you into this world. Yes, you may think you love your boyfriend now, but do you think you will really love him forever? It was easy for me to get pregnant; it could be just as easy for you to get pregnant. What about an STI? What about ruining your reputation? What happens if he breaks up with you? What if he leaves you alone to try and take care of a baby?

I’m writing you this, because I love you and you mean the world to me. Your mom and I waited for marriage to have you. Marriage is like your driver’s license to have sex. You need a driver’s license to drive safely; you need a marriage license to have sex safely. I know you will make a good decision.

Love, Dad

***************

Dear Daughter,

I would like to help you in your quest for finding the right boy in your life. I want you to wait to have sex with that boy until you are married. If you have sex before marriage you may be dealing with guilt, fear, worry, loss of respect, poor reputation, feeling used, and memories. If you have sex before marriage you may lose your reputation. You could lose your friends, or even damage your relationships with your family members. These consequences could last a life time. Just imagine you have a backpack on and all the above was in that bag and you had to carry it around everywhere you went. I just want you to be safe.

Love, Mom

**************

Dear Son,

This is my worry for you right now, even though it doesn’t seem like a problem right now. Just listen I fear for you. I hope you will not fall into the trap of having sex before you are married. If you truly want to be happy, make the Lord happy and think about sex the way he intended it to be. Be a warrior for Him and be aware of sin and temptation. If you need help pray to be a true warrior for Him.

Love, Dad

*************

Dear Friend,

Hey man it’s me. I need you to pay close to this. I know you and your girlfriend really like each other, but you should save yourself for marriage. If not, you could get STD’s, or get her pregnant. A lot of things could go wrong. You don’t need this. I don’t want to see you go through this either. You don’t need to live with guilt, lack of trust, or feelings of being used. If you need someone to talk to I’m here for you. I hope you take this all into consideration.

Your Friend

I’m writing this to someone I probably don’t know right now, but if I ever show this to you I have waited until our wedding day to have sex. I’m saving myself for someone I might not know, because [...]]]> My dear:

I’m writing this to someone I probably don’t know right now, but if I ever show this to you I have waited until our wedding day to have sex. I’m saving myself for someone I might not know, because that is very romantic. Also, if you wait to have sex there is a zero chance of pregnancy and you are less likely to have an STI.

People think that sex is love, but it is really just sex.

Please, if you’re my wife, be pretty, because I want my wife to be hot. Don’t get ticked at me, but I think I’m a good cook and would like to cook some of the meals around the house. Can you have a big job and I have a big job? So that we both get paid lots of money and live in a big house. By the way, I want three kids!

Love,
?

*************

Dear Friend,

When I say we are good friends, it seems to be, and technically is, an understatement. We have this connection as friends that as a bond that will seemingly have a strength that will never die. You are not far off from a brother to me, the guy who has been there for a very long time.

It is because of that relationship I have with you, as a friend, that is making me write this to you. When I consider your wellbeing I feel the need to treat it as my own. I care for you, man, and as sappy as it may sound, I’m here for you, and there is a reason I’m writing this letter.

I know that you and your girlfriend may be considering “doing it” for a while now, and if you haven’t, you might be in the future. I realize that it seems like it might be a good idea, at least in the mindset you and I both have now. Yes, we have birth control, condoms, and other things like that. It seems like it would be okay, right? Right? Wrong.

I’m here as your friend telling you this idea is a bad idea. Sex before marriage is one of the worst things you can possibly hope to do for yourself. Condoms fail sometimes. What if you get your girlfriend pregnant? What would you do to support her and your child? STI’s could make you ill and unhealthy. So much can go wrong from one stupid decision.

There is a lot of pressure out there and I want you to arm yourself with some defensive ideas:
1. Be careful where you hang out and with whom you hang out.
2. Hang out in a group. More people equal less pressure.
3. Stay away from drugs and alcohol.
4. Don’t listen to inappropriate music, or watch porn. Keep your world clean.

These are just a few pieces of advice to keep you safe. I want you to have a good life and not be scarred by immorality and poor choices that will destroy your life. Abstinence is the best thing you can do until you’re married. You have a future, and as a friend, I am going to do my best to make sure it turns out the best it can.

Just for you, because I care,
Your friend

Waiting to have sex before marriage is very important. You don’t want to live with a bad reputation with names like “Hoe or Slut.”

You don’t want to live with loss of respect, fear, worry, or guilt. Well, waiting means a [...]]]> Dear Future Daughter,

Waiting to have sex before marriage is very important.
You don’t want to live with a bad reputation with names like “Hoe or Slut.”

You don’t want to live with loss of respect, fear, worry, or guilt.
Well, waiting means a more positive life.

Love, Your Future Mom

***********

Dear Daughter,

I have chosen to save myself for my marriage to have sex, because if you have sex young you will regret it. It may change the way you are and the way people treat you. It may cause another to hurt your feelings. Sex can put more emotions in you and mess you up. You may want to then harm yourself, because of the pain you feel. The consequences may never be forgotten and could scar you for a long time. This is why I have chosen to wait and hope you have as well.

Mom

***********

Dear Friend,

I just wanted to tell you that it is good that you haven’t lost your virginity yet, but I have been hearing how your boyfriend is trying to “get into your pants.” I think you should wait until you get married to have sex, because he will probably leave you after he has used you. If you be weak let him take it, but I believe you to be strong. I’m here for you.

Love you, Your friend.

My friend is not safe, for he will not wait. On the first date, he may make a mistake.

One night, he informs me of his choice. The [...]]]> He has loved once, and he will love twice.
But what he is lacking is good advice.

My friend is not safe, for he will not wait.
On the first date, he may make a mistake.

One night, he informs me of his choice.
The one thing I do is give out my voice.

The dangers of sex will change his life.
As this woman he loves, is not yet his wife.

But looking for love, he may take this path.
And soon realize the future wrath.

If he chooses now, he may be infected,
With a deep pain not yet detected.

But if he can wait until the day of marriage,
His life will be better, with no disparage.

Listen to the words I inform you of,
As waiting for sex is a true form of love.

By waiting you show self- control of your body,
Abstinence will help you and your “hottie”.

When you wait for sex, you will learn,
That it will be one of the best ways to turn.

If you wait for sex, you will soon find out,
Emotional baggage and pain you can do without.

Saving sex for marriage is the best thing to do,
To your future wife you are proclaiming “I love you.”

**************

Dear future husband,

I am writing this letter pertaining to the reasons as to why I will wait to have sex with you. There are three main concerns regarding my abstinence until we are married.

The first being, above all the others, would be emotional consequences. For me happiness has never come easily, and I personally would believe that casual sex would have a very heavy toll on a person. Also, there is my reputation to consider. I would not want to be viewed as a whore, or slut.

The second concern would be the diseases that sex can bring to a person. I do not want to be infected by any sort of STD. I have heard of things such as crabs, and find them quite disgusting. Herpes is not something I would like to have for the rest of my life, and honestly, none of the over thirty STD’s out there sound even slightly good.

My third concern would probably have to be the risk of pregnancy. If you are to be my husband then I don’t wish to have a child with anyone but you. I am a person with divorced parents and I fully realize that having two parents that love one another is very crucial.

I am sure that you can understand my logic and the importance of abstinence in my life. Sex is something that I believe should only be between a husband and a wife.

Sincerely,
Your future wife

**************

Dear Child,

I would like to take this opportunity to tell you what is weighing heavy on my mind.

As you begin to mature, the world will say that it is okay to do whatever you want as long as it feels good. To have his philosophy is not what I agree with, nor is it what God intends. There are always consequences and reactions to our actions. Peers will say that it is okay sex before marriage, but they are not the ones who have to live with the consequences of doing so.

The burdens of raising an infant until they are an adult are physically, mentally, emotionally, and financially draining. That responsibility is for life in exchange for a few moments of pleasure. And what about STD’s? How do you think it will feel being in a relationship and telling your partner you have some sort of STD? A disease like HIV diminishes your life or even takes it away. It is so humiliating!

Remember your decision does not just affect you, it affects everyone around you….My rule number one for you is NO SEX BEFORE MARRIAGE!

Love, Dad

**************

SKIT: My Friend is Seriously Considering Sex

Scene: Bella walks up to Liz in the hallway at school all happy and smiling.

Bella: “Liz, guess what?”

Liz: “What?”

Bella: “You know how Billy and I are getting serious about our relationship?”

Liz: “Yeah”

Bella: “Well…his parents are out of town this weekend and Billy has the place all to himself. He has invited me over…and since we are in love…I think our relationship is ready for sex!”

Liz: “Whoa, whoa, whoa….You’re going to have sex? Don’t you know that it’s wrong and you can hurt yourself and lots of other people by doing that?”

Bella: “How is it wrong when we love each other? We plan to get married after high school anyway. And how can we hurt other people? You and Billy and I are the only ones who know!”

Liz: “God knows! And I know it is a sin. Besides, if you love each other so much, won’t you love each other even more by the time you get married? You should wait until then, it will be even better than you imagined. It’s the right thing to do.”

Bella: “Come on! Waiting is boring! Sex is the cool thing to do….everyone else I know has.”

Liz: “You know me and I haven’t. It’s one of the most dangerous things a teen can do. You can get pregnant or get an STD and be really sick. What is so cool about that?”

Bella: “Wow, I guess I didn’t really think about that. You’re right. I guess I’ll go tell Billy I’ve changed my mind. I’m not ready to have sex. If he really loves me, he will be okay with that and wait.”

Liz: “Good for you. Come on let’s go to class.”