To borrow a quote from Stephen Covey, “Begin with the end in mind.” Here is a great example to reference – a 23 year old that gets it:
The headline read, “Miss World – Gorgeous Enough to Speak Hard Truths.” Crowned Miss Philippines 2013, Miss Megan Young was crowned Miss World 2013, despite her strong conservative beliefs. Speaking to television network ANC, she told the host: “I’m pro-life. …I am against abortion.”
ANC Host: What about contraception?
Young: “Well, I don’t engage in stuff like that as of now. I think that sex is for marriage.”
Host: Wow! Now a woman as gorgeous as yourself, how do you say ‘no’ to sex?
Young: “You just say ‘no,’ that’s it. I mean, if they try to push you, then you step away because you know that person doesn’t value you; doesn’t value the relationship as much.”
Miss Megan Young is a 23 year old beauty queen that gets it! The focus is on relationship! Casual sex and the “hooking up” culture are responsible for 20 million new sexually transmitted infections annually and indeed reflect a generation starving for meaningful relationships.
The standard is provided in 1Corinthians 6:13, 18-19 – “The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord or the body. … Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you,” Ephesians 5:25 – “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her,” and Hebrews 13:4 – “Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure.”
The Talk is not a one-off event and is certainly not just about sex. It is the walk day in and day out that provides the next generation with an example to follow. The home is the primary and secondary school for education in relationship.
Tips for The Talk:
- Reflect the standard for a healthy relationship between a man and woman in the home and provide a safe environment for kids to ask questions;
- Be intentional to connect to new levels of relationship with each child as they mature; and,
- Check out resources at Focus on the Family, Parenting/Sexuality, and other Christian initiatives such as True Love Waits, TrueLoveWaits, to stay alert to challenges kids are facing today.
Prayer: Lord, thank You for the relationship You opened my heart to and for the example provided through Your word. Your absolute standard is a blessing in a world that thrives on confusion around healthy relationships. Strengthen me as a contagious Christian to live my relationship with You in marriage and family in a way that encourages the next generation to catch what I’ve got in You. Amen.
A Faithful Father walks The Talk.
