I've been observing teenage behavior lately and I don't like what I see. There are a few young teens that I know who are tied up in knots over "cheating" boyfriends, break-ups and being "the other woman". Whoever said dating is practice for divorce was right on the money. It is akin to watching a three year old girl fuss over her play kitchen with her play food and her baby dolls. How sad is it to replace that sort of play with play adultery, play heartbreak, and play divorce. I don't like it one little bit.
We get a lot of criticism for choosing the path less traveled of courtship but we have good reason. Our daughters are beautiful. The reason that's not boasting is because I consider it more of a curse than a blessing... more of an opportunity to be snared by temptation, if you will. There is much to protect them from because they attract a lot of attention. If we had allowed it, there would have been many boyfriends by now.
I know a young man who uses and discards young girls like I use and discard kitchen garbage bags. It's not pretty. My girls are worth more than that and their future husbands will thank us for keeping them pure, not just physically but emotionally. Sometimes I think the emotional baggage is more far-reaching and damaging than the physical.
When discussing her friend's recent "boy trouble" angst, my sixteen year old said to me, "Praise the Lord for courtship!" Music to my ears, it was. She gets it. She embraces it. She realizes that in courtship and protection are freedom and peace. The world will tell my girls that freedom is tramping down the street with every Tom, Dick and Harry. They know better.
And, for that I praise the Lord.
4 comments:
I would give anything if I had had this example as a young girl.
People don't understand why I won't allow Daniel to have any type of dating relationship, call a girl his "girlfriend", and why I would even approach the mother of a young lady who was clearly becoming emotionally attached to him (not even the mother). But I know the unecessary drama and pain associated with dating expectations of teenagers - and I do not want that for my kids. You are right - your daughters AND their future husbands will be thankful.
I have to agree with you on this one. I have dealt with critism on my but choices, but I feel that teenagers need to be led in the right direction. Someone needs to teach them how to treat a lady starting with their sister and I. I think the problem today is people have forgotten how to treat a lady and how to be a gentleman. My children will not date. I feel that the dating game is just asking for trouble. I believe in the courting system. My grandparents courted, they were married for 65 years. The love they shared was a love so deep and perfect that they never glanced in the direction of another male or female. I want that for my kids. I want my daughter to understand that she needs to act like a lady and respect herself. I applaud you and how you are raising your children. I think you are a wonderful example to many.
I'm seventeen and my parents never advocated courtship, it's more like I stumbled upon it. Now I'm committed to it, and hopefully my brother will follow my lead in it. I thank the Lord that He has lead me to this path and I encourage my friends to do the same.
I'm on the other side of the fence, so to speak, we also followed courtship with our now 24 yr old daughter. When she got married, she was PURE emotionally and physically. Trust me when I say it was all worth it to see her walk down the aisle worthy of the white she worn. Stay true and focused, feel sorry for the naysayers and do what is best for your child. Joy Boyd
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