There’s a few of my posts that are inspired by my job as a nurse …. some funny, some scary, and some poignant. Tonight’s issue hit a little close to home, as a mother of a teenage girl.
Young girl comes in tonight, with Dad, and has a totally tough girl attitude. Hat on, shuffle walk (you know the one, makes you crazy, when they don’t pick up their feet!), very little eye contact with me. I asked her why she was here, and she says, “I need to be checked for an STD.”
Oh boy.
After a talk with her, turns out she was having unprotected sex with her boyfriend, and now had ‘blisters’ in her nether regions. I went into ‘mom mode’ at that point, and talked to her about how when she has sex with someone, she’s having sex with EVERY OTHER person this guy has ever slept with. I also talked to her about how her sexuality is a gift, entrusted to her by God, and she should save that gift for her husband. She cried, I got all teary-eyed, and her Daddy looked like he was about to break down any minute. Of course, the poor girl now has herpes ….. it won’t kill you, but you will have this disease for the REST OF YOUR LIFE!! Pretty crappy outcome for a few episodes of getting naked.
Like any good mother, I called my own daughter, near tears myself, to tell her about the poor girl, and to remind her that I expect her NOT to have sex until she is married. Of course, she thinks I’m being ridiculous. Doesn’t she understand that I want to spare her possible STDs, possible pregnancy, loss of self esteem, and potential for a whole lot of heart ache??
Sigh.
I am completely old fashioned, and subscribe whole heartedly to the ‘no one should have sex before they are married’ school. Do I think that is an easy road?? No, but it’s what I will be teaching my children, and it’s what I expect from ALL of them. Is it realistic?? YES — I don’t believe that society should be telling me, as a parent, how my children should act. In my life, I’ve known 2 women (probably more)who waited until their wedding day to share that gift with their husbands. It CAN be done …. with a lot of hard work, sacrifice, prayer, and parental guidance.
Scripture for today:
1 Corinthians 6:18-20
Shun fornication! Every sin that a person commits is outside the body; but the fornicator sins the body itself. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you were bought with a price, therefore glorify God in your body.
Moms, be honest and frank with your children, and talk to them about life, sex, and what you expect from them. If you’ve made mistakes, tell them! (within reason, of course. I don’t advocate treating your daughter like a girlfriend) Teach your sons to treat women with respect. Disclaimer for you — I’m not a perfect person, and have often struggled with issues of purity/chastity in my own life. Please don’t think I’m on a high horse, telling you how to act.
Saint for today, and a model for purity: St Maria Goretti. Another Italian saint (I promise, I will highlight other countries soon!), she was the daughter of poor Italian sharecroppers. Her father, Luigi, brought his family to a town near Rome, and worked for Count Mazzoleni. When Luigi contracted malaria, Count Mazzoleni brought in Giovanni Serenelli, and his 18 year old son, Alessandro, to help harvest.
The Serenellis moved in with the Gorettis, and after Maria’s father died, took over running the household. Giovanni forced Maria to run the household, at the age of 10, while her mother Assunta was forced to work in the fields. Giovanni drank heavily, and Alessandro surrounded himself with pornography. When Maria turned 12, Alessandro became increasingly aware of her, and began to encourage her to have sex with him. He finally threatened her to the point of death if she did not submit to his wishes. Maria stated she would rather die than defile herself —- Alessandro attacked her, stabbing her to death.
She died as a martyr for Christ, and amazingly, it was Alessandro’s testimony that cleared the way for her beatification and canonization. She remains a patron saint for purity, young women, and victims of rape.
Join in, link up, and let me learn a thing or two from you as well! I’ll try to lighten things up a bit next week!
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