Love is in the AIR!

It seems fitting that we would talk about dating in the LOVE month. Good ole Valentine's day. I have to be completely honest that I don't talk about this topic much. I wonder for you as a parent if you talk about dating with your son or daughter? Or do you just not saying anything because it would be "like totally awkward."

Dating is hard to talk about not just because it is awkward but whatever we might say just gets lost in the cultural milieu that youth hear at school anyway.

Embracing Jesus for ourselves means letting him influence all spheres of our life including dating.

All that said here is what I want to accomplish in my talk to youth. 
1. Finding the "why" behind dating. I date because...
2. Who I date matters. We all know that all reason goes out the window when your "in love." Is the person I am dating a total jerk? Are they religious? Do they value what I value? These are important things to ask ourselves in the midst of dating relationships.

3. I have debated whether to mention "sex" in this talk. But I will briefly talk about that we as Christians believe that sex is something God created to be celebrated between a covenant relationship we all call MARRIAGE. Our culture doesn't typically side on this ideal anymore but I believe as a Christian that it stills has value. This is an image that God gives us as a way of understanding our relationship with God. So... it is pretty important. (youth will get Love is in the Air devotionals... maybe you the parent can dialogue).

Colossians 3 says, " If you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God."

4. Seek adult/pastoral/mentor/friend guidance. This one is super important especially as you get older. It always mattered much to me that my friends approved of my relationships. It mattered much that they could tell me that I was being foolish by dating so and so or making the best decision of my life.