My rant for the day...

Joel and I used to be youth leaders.  It seems like a hundred years ago now.  Many of our Jr. High kids are married with children of their own.  Weird.  Makes me feel like an old fart.  Sometimes Joel and I joke that we're the old couple sitting on our front step yelling at those 'young-uns' doing all those shenanigans.  It seems like forever ago that I was a teenager or in my early 20's and making a name for myself, going out with friends, no worries in the world.  It was really only a little over 10 year ago.  10 years from now that will be my kids in their teenage years.  Strange.

If Hannah or Noah were to ever read this post, I would want them to know something.  The world will make you think you need to look a certain way, think a certain way, believe certain things.  There will be a day that you are more concerned with how your friends think of you than what your daddy and I do.  And there will be a day you will hate us.

One of the girls Joel and I used to 'lead' in youth group is a facebook friend.  She's a beautiful girl in her early 20's.  She always had that special smile that comes from innocence.  She still has a smile, but it's different now.  She's changed so much in the past few years.  Her skirts have gotten shorter, her tops have gotten lower and tighter.  Every picture she posts is her striking a pose that shows off her assets.  The comments made on her pictures are ones complimenting her beauty and free spirit.  She's often photographed at a bar or smoking, arms around a boy or two, smiling that special smile.

I just wonder if she realizes what image she's portraying.

There are so many things I want to say to her.  I would love to sit her down and talk some sense in to her.  But that wouldn't be well received.  How could a 33-year-old woman understand what it's like to be a 21-year-old girl with the whole world to explore?

Oh, my dear.  I've been there.  I remember wearing the short skirts and tight tops because I wanted attention.  And I got attention.  But was it the kind of attention I really wanted?  Yes, I had guys that came over to chat with me.  I had girls who were envious of me.  But was that really who I was?  A flirt?  A girl who just wanted to have a good time, no boundaries?  A girl who confuses lust with love?

I had to take a long, hard look at the type of life I wanted.  Where did I see myself in 1 year?  5 years? 10 years?  I wanted a family.  I wanted a husband who would stick by me through thick and thin, good times and bad.  I didn't want to be a divorce statistic.

For my daughter, I say this.  There will be plenty of times that you don't like the rules your daddy and I make.  There will be a day that you hate us.  But I promise to raise you in a way that shows you how much you are loved and the type of love you deserve.  You don't need to make yourself look a certain way or act a certain way to gain attention.  The attention you gain by putting on a false front isn't the type of attention that you want.  The man your daddy and I pray you'll find is one who doesn't need to see you in skin tight clothes to love you.  That love isn't real.  It's merely a shadow of a love so much greater just waiting for you .

For my son, I say this.  You are going to be put in situations where girls may dress a certain way or act a certain way to get your attention.  You may even want to do something stupid to gain their attention.  Your daddy and I are praying every day that when that temptation comes, you'll walk away.  You'll find it in yourself to look past those ridiculous situations.  We hope for you that you'll find a girl that doesn't need to resort to superficial trickery to gain your attention.  One that isn't looking for men to lust after her.  She's looking for real love.  And in return, you'll love her for the beautiful girl she is.

We pray for both our children that you'll find the type of love your daddy and I have.  It's there.  You may have to wait a long time for it but when you find it, it's so worth it!