has filled your heart

"What Can I Do? Preparing Your Child -- from Relationships to Marriage"
* Covey's 2nd habit of HEP: "Begin w/ end in mind"
- All worth it: mistakes, effort, time
- "No way to be perfect parent; million ways to be good one"
* Give it your best shot
* The Beginning
- Most important lesson you will ever teach your child in area of relationships & marriage is the one you live before them w/ own spouse
- Even in troubled marriages, God still sovereign; truth will win it
- No need to hide shortcomings -- kids already know; be open about mistakes and struggles
* Foundation#1: Guard your heart {Prov4:23}
* Foundation#2: Do not awaken love before due season {SongSol2:7, 3:5, 8:4}
* Four pillars of relationship training: exclusivity, physical, emotional (expression of affection), light
* Exclusivity
- Should? Yes, designed by God for monogamy (A&E)
- When? TBD w/ spouse
- Goal not just virginity -- much more at stake; being whole & healthy more than just sexuality
- Not about rules/terms -- character/heart issues
- "Don't confuse average w/ normal"
* Physical
- Red ferrari story
- We are built for open road; no natural stopping point
* Expression of affection
- Phys strugg diff for boys than girls; emotional strugg similar area for girls
- Protect girls' ears; teach boys emotion not weapon to be wielded
* Live in Light
- Enemy loves dark
- Things grow in power in dark
- Encourage open discussion of feelings
- "We love you & we're going to get through this"
* Applications
- Never too early/late to start
- Sit down w/ spouse & plan
- Set up family meeting(s)
- Have dates w/ children
- Keep eye on ball