Why love is patient...

Not sure why I feel compelled to write this addendum to my previous post. I just do. I think perhaps it's because I can almost hear the thoughts of some who don't see the point, to the effect that we are setting our girls up for failure by encouraging them here.

No doubt the commitment both of our girls have made (Playmaker - 3yrs ago, Strike - just recently - see previous post) - each to remain pure for their future husband - is HUGE and at times, is likely to be extremely difficult to keep. They stand in stark contrast to a culture in which, according No Impact Man, ...

a staggering 80% of trash today is stuff that was made to be used only once.
Edit...to be more accurate, I should have said 80% of products are made to be used only once.
- And I'd go so far as to assert that sexual undertones are used to market almost all of it.

If you ask me, THAT is a set up for failure. Is it any wonder then that this perverted/disposable mindset has polluted virtually every aspect of life, even to the point that many young ladies believe the lie that they themselves are of little worth- and many, if not most, who commit to sexual purity give up long before they intend to? Following this train of thought where it leads, it breaks my heart to even try to imagine how they must feel afterward given what our society does with the aforementioned 80% of used merchandise.

Our girls' intent reflects a sense of self-worth (value!) that they find in their relationship with God -- something they just will not find in a world where most everything as God intended it to be for our good, has been polluted almost beyond recognition. Tho' He won't force them to obey His precepts, they choose to because they understand the protective boundary His precepts provide from harm ... disease, unwanted pregnancy & emotional turmoil, just to name a few. Inherent in their choice to submit to Him here is evidence of the trust they have in Him & the love they have for Him, which all stems from having some idea of how much they are loved by Him according to His perfect definition of what love is:

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.
I Corinthians 13: 4- 8

Over the past few years Playmaker's purity ring has generated conversations with both girls & boys. Some are surprised that she'd openly admit her intent and they seem a bit perplexed. Not that it matters, but much more often than not her peers admire her for it, tho' some seem almost envious because she cherishes something that they've long since given (thrown?) away.

It's been said that "You only have one 'first'." There's truth in that. The big difference our girls aspire to, is to have only one, till death does them part. If this were something we forced or bribed them to commit to then I might tend to agree with those who think we're setting them up for failure. But as long as their commitment reflects the desires of their hearts, I trust the keys to their success will be kept safely hidden within the choices they make accordingly. Only time will tell if indeed they are successful. In the meantime, most definitely and by all means, we will encourage them toward that end.

²³ Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.

Proverbs 4:23