Keeping All Her Petals

My oldest daughter is a part of a girls' group from church called "Blue Cord". The title represents the blue cord that was to be sewn into the garments of the Israelites and then into the garments of each generation following.

The LORD said to Moses, "Speak to the Israelites and say to them: 'Throughout the generations to come you are to make tassels on the corners of your garments, with a blue cord on each tassel. You will have these tassels to look at and so you will remember all the commands of the LORD...' (Numbers 15:37-39)

Last week, the girls' teen aged leader, Angela, gave each of them a flower and spoke with them about purity. The flower represents the gift they will someday give their husbands. She shared that as they grow up and become interested in boys, they will need to be strong in their decision to remain pure. With each relationship they develop with a boy, whether it be emotional or physical, they lose another petal from their symbolic flower. Rather than teach them how to become a better mate, these relationships tear parts of their hearts away. Perhaps their hearts will be broken more than once or they will learn to mistrust. Finally, when they meet the one they will spend the rest of their lives with, they have very few, if any, petals left on their flower. They cannot be completely whole and no longer have 100% of themselves to give to the one who will always be with them.

Thankfully, there is a beautiful and encouraging gift when God restores the petals that have perhaps already been pulled off. He always has an answer for those who make their decision to be pure later in life. Regret may be there but He never requires His girls to walk in shame. Many know the pain of "practicing" with others before settling down for life. The memories of those relationships often still sting a small place (or a large place!) inside. Our prayer for our daughters is that they won't know this pain but will develop into whole and strong women who are able to give the gift of a flower with all of its petals.

Now, would someone please volunteer to begin a group like this for boys?