If You're Pure or Not, Before Marriage

I was 16 yrs. old when I gave up my virginity.  Yep, you read that right.  I gave it up, I didn't lose it because I made a choice.

Even though the teen-aged boy pressured me and I was scared to do 'that', I gave in anyways because I was more afraid that he would break up with me if I didn't.  What can I say, I was a stupid girl.

I gave up my body because I longed to be loved.  And of course he said he loved me, because that's what all teen-aged boys say, don't they? 

Later he broke my heart; shattered it is a better choice of words.  It was in pieces for years.  And then I became numb.  Numb to so many men, so many 'experiences'.  I even married a man I was never in love with; after all, how could I be when my heart was still in the hands of the one I gave my virginity to. Yet marriage at that time of my life provided an escape for me.

26 years have passed and it still hurts to think about that young teen-aged girl, the one who gave part of me away to another that was not committed to me for the rest of my life.

Be Careful Little Eyes What You Read

I love to read books, I always have even when I was younger.  When I was unsaved, I read mostly romance novels- which isn't a wise path, by the way, and a path that I wouldn't encourage anyone to take; whether one is single or married.  

Now, I know there are Christian romance novels that are out, but when I married, I didn't find that these books would add any value to my relationship with my husband.  In fact, in my mind, I thought what I read would only cause me to stumble in my own marriage.  I didn't want to compare what was written on the pages of a book, to my romance with my husband.  I believe it would have set me up for failure if I took that approach.  So, I just resolved to stay away from them and even the Christian ones.  I guess you can say I was more adamant about writing my own romance novel as I lived out my marriage.

So, this brings me to my point of the post.  I know there are many women who do read romance novels and I've recently heard about a new e-reader book that's now out all over the internet.  Apparently this book falls under the 'erotica' type.  I know just a little about this book, in addition to what I have read from other fellow, Christian bloggers on this topic.  I don't intend to gather much more research because I don't care to put that kind of filth before my eyes any more than I have to.  Plus, I don't care to be tempted by the Enemy.  So, I'll trust their judgement and just stay away from it.

But now I'm sharing this information with you in hopes that it with help you, strengthen you, or protect you depending on your situation; whether you're single or married.  Plus, if you're a parent of a teen daughter, this will help you protect her as well.  That's something I wish would've taken place in my life when I was a teen.

Although I'm quite hesitant to share the title of the book with you because I don't want you to be tempted, however, on the flip side, I don't want you to innocently pick up the book and start reading it either.  

Hmmm, what to do, what to do!

Well, I feel it's best to give you the head's up on this.  The title of the book is called 50 Shades of Grey, but I don't know the author's name. 

If you happen to be a woman who's drawn into the romance and erotica novels, please take the time to read Sheila Gregoire's post addressing this issue, Why Kindles Can Wreck Your Marriage.  Even though her post is addressed to married women, I believe a single woman can glean from what she has shared.

Oh, be careful little eyes what you read!

Live a poured out life for Christ,