Present Patience

Dear sisters in Christ;

It occurred to me the other day--as my mind was being serenaded by all the holiday commercialism and Christmas things--that my sexuality is a lot like a present. (Oh no. Here she goes again with a metaphor of something relating to physical temptation...) Yep!

It's no secret that my boyfriend and I have been struggling ever since the beginning of our relationship with that tempting little gift called SEX. As a Christian, I know I want to save myself for my husband, so I have to be diligent in keeping myself pure before marriage. So, in the spirit of the season, I have an illustration on this very subject to share with you!

Your sexuality is a gift. With me so far?
God, the Father, has meticulously fashioned your body with His loving hands--intending for it to be given to one special man on your wedding day (but for this illustration, we'll say "Christmas"). Your sexuality--your intimacy--is richly wrapped  in brilliant colors with a beautiful, silky bow on top. The Father has placed it under the tree where your precious gift will wait until that special day when you will give it to the one you love. (Aw, how romanticly cute).

However.
While you are waiting for your present to be opened, you become curious. Perhaps one night you and your boyfriend sneak over to the tree and begin to peek under the paper or shake the present. Maybe you even go so far as to unwrap part of it to see what's inside?
While you (and your bf) are enjoying the rush of excitement from handling the promised present, the Father is watching you silently and is feeling disappointed that you have chosen to mistreat his gift. But, every time, he FORGIVES you and he FORGETS your sin.
The good news is: your naughtiness is forgiven! The bad news is: the memory of what that present felt like and looked like underneath the wrapping still remains in YOUR mind--subtracting from the experience of the initial surprise.

When I apply this metaphor to my relationship, my heart sinks when I think about how much I have mistreated my gift of sexuality. I know that my current boyfriend will someday be the one who gets to unwrap this "present", but that does not justify peeking at what's under the bow. We are both guilty of being impatient and curious.
Even though the Father has forgiven us and remembers our sins no more, we have robbed ourselves of the excitement we'll experience, as husband and wife, on our wedding night, as we enjoy one another's gift of sexuality.

God emphasizes in Song of Songs: "Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires."
Basically: Keep your heart in check and your body sexually pure until the time is right (aka marriage)!

Blessings,
Grace

P.S. Remember to keep the "Christ" in CHRISTmas this year! (and keep your hands off of gifts that haven't been given to you yet! ;-)