A Brief benediction for young ladies

Young Ladies
For the young ladies meeting.
(A brief benediction)


Girls, these are evil days we live in; there are a lot of people out there that will destroy you if you let them. You are approaching the time of life when decisions are crucial, and will make some decisions that can affect your entire lives. To make a wrong decision will bring pain and misery for many, many years to come. By now, most adults here can remember a decision that they would rather forget; they did something perhaps that cannot be undone; they have to live with those decisions. We hope to spare you much heartache, much anxiety, and maybe even mental anguish with this lesson, please heed it, and file it in your memory; it will help you later in life.

The one, and perhaps the greatest question you will ask yourself when you meet Mr. “right” is “Does he really love me? Is he sincere, or stringing me along?” Girls, Listen, there is no way you will know without continued communication with God. I know that sounds trite; you have heard it all your life, but I am going to give you tonight a few guidelines that will spare you from grief later on. I am going to teach you how to discern between the true and the untrue.

You may have already met that prince on a shining white horse--your hero, the man of your dreams, and yet as the relationship grows, doubts prevail. Making the right decision is too important to ignore. As your relationship grows (and I will be as delicate as I can) he presses you for a more intimate relationship. What are you going to do? You are under no obligation to submit to him yet. Does he really want a lasting relationship? (Get this in your craw ladies, marriage is forever. Ten years up the road you ought to love him as much, and more than you do when you first get married. Twenty years later, you are still committed to him--it’s for life!) if you jump into a marriage as a “trial basis,” you are not committed yourself, you are not ready for a permanent relationship.

Here are some guidelines that may be helpful:

1. How does he treat his mother?
The attitude toward his mother will reveal to you his attitude toward you some day. If he is cruel to that woman which bear him into the world, and took care of him for many years, what makes you think he will be different with you?

2. How does he handle authority?
God is the ultimate authority--if he is rebellious toward the Lord, what makes you think he will be kind and generous to you?

3. Can he hold a job?
Working reveals much more than being able to support you, although that is very important. It is a matter of character. Character will help him stay around when things get tough (and they will); working is a “training field” for fidelity.

4. Is he responsible?
Paying bills, and meeting other obligations will “prove” him to be responsible. Marriage is hard enough without failing in responsibilities; many men “give up” because of the result of irresponsibility, and will abandon a marriage. This, to many, is the true proof of manhood.