During my high school years I attended church youth group with my friends, and have long recalled a presentation that was given about love and sexual desire in relationships.
The presentation was given by a woman who said it is important to devote time and energy into fostering a loving relationship. She warned about how quickly succumbing to sexual desires to please a partner can lead to internal turmoil and problems in the relationship itself. I am thankful to this day for having heard that presentation.
She held a pink rose in her hand and said the rose represented a young woman. She began telling a story in a solemn and serious voice, saying the woman, represented as the rose, found herself in a relationship where she quickly gave her body away to a man because she thought it would bring her love. But it didn’t. Her relationship was short lived and her heart sank. The woman removed a few petals from the flower.
She continued with the story. Soon the woman found herself in other relationships where yet again she gave in to temptations and thought catering to her partners’ requests would further develop love. Alas, her heart was broken yet again, and again, and more petals were gradually removed from the rose.
Soon the rose had hardly any petals left, and the woman speaking noted that the young woman was emotionally distraught and unhappy. She said it is important to not cave to sexual demands and to put time and energy into developing a loving and trusting relationship.
That presentation has made me give more thought to the relationships I am in and ultimately what I expect from my partner and myself. I am happy today to be a healthy young woman (I consider 30 to be young) in a long term relationship with a man who thinks dearly of me. We have visited each other’s families, traveled the world, and have lived together for many years. I give that presentation from the church some credit for my happy relationship.
Lauren Ell is an American blogger born and raised in Southern California and is currently based in Sweden. She discusses Epilepsy, Politics and Fun. Professionally Ell is an Online Marketing Consultant and Virtual Assistant. She is also founder and president of Republican Atheists and GunSafetySociety.org. Connect with Lauren on Facebook and Twitter.