Reflections on a sensitive topic...

Today was the last day in a 3 block series on adolescent education for half of the girls in the 6th grade at my school. This was the first time I have ever had to talk to anyone about periods, puberty and well purity. I am not sure who was more nervous the girls or me? It occurred to me that I never had this sit down talk with my parents. I mean I knew that I wasn't allowed to "date" until I was 16, but did I truly ever really know what boundaries were or being pure? I am not sure. I mean I have kept that promise that I made at the True Love Waits conference back in 7th grade. I remember someone bringing that rose to my house and saying that the Lord was proud and that He was going to do amazing things because of this promise. But really when I think about it no one ever really sat me down and explained to me what the Bible or the world or anyone really had to say about the subject.

I think more than any other time this year, talking about this topic I really understood a little bit of what parents go through. For it is not comfortable at all to talk about but it is necessary. I realized that there is so much that kids need to learn and if we just let T.V and magazines do the teaching than chances are they are going to get the wrong message.

I also realized how the Lord designed us. For some reason growing up I had in my mind that it was wrong for me to want a relationship and a marriage. I am not sure where I got that idea from. Then I also got the idea that because I have only dated one person in my life there is something wrong with me. As I talked with the girls...they ofcourse asked about my first love. And I got to think back to those Jeremy days. How awkward that was, but part of growing up. If only I had known what I know now. I would have gotten over him long before I did. The thing is that we were designed to want companionship and that is just a part of growing up. But the Lord also tells us to flee from things that will cause immorality. That is a deep and complex issue to try and teach 6th graders. But I am thankful that I got the chance. For I think it helped me to see a little more into the design of who I am and the desires that I have to one day know what it is like to have a family and a home.