The Age of Enlightenment (click to comment)

Do you remember the day you first learned about the birds and the bees? I was in fourth grade. My friend Bobby told me all about it. As I recall, he had the whole thing embarrassingly backwards, and I trust he’s been informed of this now that he has his own counseling ministry.

A few years later, my mother interrupted a perfectly good baseball game to discuss the birds, bees and other assorted insects. I remember sitting on our plaid couch, thoroughly amazed at my mother’s frankness. She told me:
a. Where I came from.
b. How I got there.
c. That it was all part of God’s marvelous plan, carrying with it rules that, when followed, would lead to a lifetime of freedom and fulfillment.

“Philip,” she said in conclusion, “sex is a beautiful gift that God has set aside for husbands and wives. Don’t forget it.” I was sure I wouldn’t forget. But I also thought, there’s gotta be a better way to reproduce. If ever I have children, I’m sure I shall have found it. I reminded Mom years later of ‘The Talk.’ She laughed. Then reminded me that they didn’t have 30 million child-rearing books to tell them how to pass along the delicate details. We live in a different world. And sometimes it’s a scary one. Wherever our kids turn—school, the Internet, their phones –they are inundated with flashy signs pointing them off course. So here are three things to remember:

1. Silence isn’t always golden. Talk about these things. Don’t be afraid. But don’t carry it too far. When my son Jeff asked me where babies came from, I told him. He blinked, said, “No way!” But he knew he had no reason to mistrust me. A frantic dad asked me if he should tell his kids about these things. I said, “Yes. Would you rather they hear about it from TV?” Talk about it.
2. Know the truth. One reason God is so concerned about our sexual lives, is that he knows how damaging this great gift can be when misused. 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4 says: “For you remember what we taught you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin… and live in holiness and honour.” The joy of doing the right thing is unequalled. Know the truth.
3. Honour one another. If we want our kids to control themselves in holiness and honour, we must too. I’m so thankful I had parents who cared for each other. But by their tenderness and commitment, they showed me that the best sex education in all the world is a mom and dad who love each other.

Hey, you don’t take these things lightly when all you started out with was a fourth grade education.