My name is Karen and my husband is Terrence. We met at a BBQ and seemed to hit it off really well. We eventually exchanged numbers but had not started getting to know each other until the next year. Terrence was actually finishing school and I was a few months out of a relationship so for us the timing was not the best.
Ironically we both felt uneasy about getting to know each other in that moment of our lives and only kept in touch over the phone. We only talked a few times before going out on our first date the following year.
Another ironic thing is that we both had it settled in our minds that our “getting to know each other” would never involve sex. We dated almost two years before we got married. During our courtship we never spent nights with each other, never saw each other without clothes, and never kissed below the neck. A lot of people thought it was weird, I mean everyone knew sex was the norm right? Well we did not want to be the average couple.
One thing that worked and helped me date without sex was a Bible verse that speaks about only what you do for Christ will last. Well I knew that this relationship was heading in the direction of marriage and if I want God’s blessing on us and our marriage to last then why can’t we wait while we date. I even had it settled in my mind that if he tried, nothing would happen. Well in case you’re wondering he never tried. He of course wanted to and I wanted to, too!
Our decision to please God and the reverence we had for Him made it easier. I am not saying it was easy, but that it simply made it easier. We took time to communicate and did things with other couples and even made sure we were not out to late.
I am so grateful to God for giving me a man after His own heart. I am also grateful that our marriage is strong, for Terrence is not only a great husband but a great father of our two children.