Wait...! Why? Why should I wait to have sex?  Everybody else is doing it.      "Come on, everybody's doing it." The purpose of the line is to make you feel alone, inadequate and embarrassed.  And when it comes to sex, the person putting on the pressure wants you to think you are the "only" virgin around.   The fact is most people in their teens and many in their early twenties are virgins, too. "Everybody is doing it," is utterly false. Some people have "done it" and stopped because the experience wasn't worth the price. Take control of your life. Experience the satisfaction of living by your values. Develop incredible self-respect. Gain the respect of the people you respect. Focus your energy on achieving your goals. Enjoy a relationship based on honesty, unselfishness, and true love. Build a solid trust in marriage. Enjoy being young and experiencing what life has to offer you. What's The Big Deal If I Have Sex Before I Get Married?   The big deal could be your dreams for the future.  "I've already had sex. Is it too late for me?"   Not at all. We all make mistakes in life. It's only a tragedy when we don't learn from those mistakes.   Recommit to yourself and gain the benefits of taking the high road. It's never too late. Invest in finding and keeping a life long love now--by preventing disease and emotional garbage.    As long as we use birth control, nothing bad can happen... right?   Well, that depends on your definition of 'bad'.   If 'bad' means: getting pregnant, catching a life-altering or fatal disease going through some heart wrenching emotional garbage, or bonding with a partner who isn't worth your body, mind and heart then the answer is YES!  A whole lot of 'bad' can happen.   The 7 Benefits Of Marriage For Men Fuller, happier lives. A longer, healthier life. Better family finances. Healthy marriages lead to strong relationships with children. Healthy children. Increased faithfulness.  More, better, and safer sex. Benefits of Marriage For Women AND Children Married families have higher annual incomes. Married people are happier than single or divorced people. Married mothers are half as likely to become victims of domestic violence. Children from married-parent families spend less childhood time in poverty. Children from married-parent families spend much less childhood time on welfare. Married women have fewer abortions. Children in married-parent families are less likely to repeat a grade in school. Fewer adolecents report health problems in married parent families. Adolescents in married-parent families are less likely to be depressed. Teenagers from married-parent families are less likely to be sexually active. Children from married-parent families are less likely to end up in jail as adults. Why Living Together Isn't All It's Cracked Up To Be..........   1.  "By living together, we can see how we'll get along when we're married."             Heard this one?  It's not true!  Most couples who live together before marriage undermine the one thing that ultimately keeps couples together - COMMITMENT.   2.   "But we are committed to each other - that's why we're moving in!"         UH HUH.  Commitment is more than just sharing living space.  It is a deep and lasting bond that says "no matter what, I'm sticking with you."  If you really mean, "no matter what", why aren't you willing to get married?    3.   "We'll be less likely to end up in divorce court."         This is true only because 67% of live-ins never even GET married.  Full commitment in marriage decreases the likelihood of looking for the "loophole" in the arrangement.   4.   "But we'll be happier.  And we won't feel tied down."            THE MARRIAGE commitment results in a more complete and unreserved giving of oneself by both partners.  Marriage offers better sexual and emotional fulfillment and the security to engage in true intimacy.   5.   "Our children will be better off."         On the contrary, couples who live together are more likely to leave each other than those who marry.  This leaves kids smack in the middle of the break-up.  When it comes to finances, children whose parents cohabit are three times more likely to live in proverty than children of married parents.   Why Wait for Sex?  Think about it. To help me protect myself from heartache.  To help me channel my energies into future goals. To help me discover deeper friendships.  To help me avoid the peer pressure.  To help me avoid the need for lying.  To help me protect myself from disease & pregnancy.  To help me avoid bad memories. To help me share something special with my mate.  To help me avoid guilt and disappointment.  To help me respect myself.  If you or someone you know is struggling with the decision of whether or not to wait for sex or how to make a new committment to sexual purity after you have already had sex, please call us at (208)892-WISH (9474) or schedule an appointment online for a confidential consultation.  We also offer presentations, workshops, seminars and classes free of charge for groups of all ages and stages of life regarding abstinence-centered relationship education.  Find out more.  To request a speaker, contact our relationship education coordinator, Susan Thomas, at 882-2370 or by email at .