Someone asked me the other day if we were going to allow our kids to date in high school. No, we're not. We strongly feel that the emotions and energies of youth should be channeled into spiritual and personal development. My friend's question segued into a conversation about the thoughts and ideas and convictions that Cole and I have developed over the years regarding the subject. So... I dug out this old article that I wrote for our church's newsletter a few years ago. Enjoy. It's OK To Be Lonely Well, summer's almost complete and even though we [a girl's Bible study that I was leading at the time] haven't met often, you girls have been on my mind. Katie, who has been a part of us since she was just a sweet, red-headed, little girl will be embarking on one of the most exciting adventures of her life: her Freshman year at a Christian University. We'll all miss her, but we know that the year holds much promise for her and we're anxious to see what God has in store. Being a former student of SBU myself, I have memories of long walks to Dunnegan Park, hanging out at the Cat-Snack and upholding the long standing tradition of throwing pennies at Dr. Sheldon during his pre-class, comic monologues. But now-- what about the rest of us? What does the next year hold in store for us? We still live in the cozy little hamlet of ________." Nothing exciting ever happens here," we sigh. Sometimes a girl can go downright crazy trying to drum up a little fun. I have talked with many parents of teenagers (girls and guys) over the years. Many of them are parents of teens who have rejected their parent's morality code and the God who goes along with it. What happened along the way that caused these precious youth to flippantly toss away the valuable training that they received as youngsters? At first glance it just boggles the mind, but upon closer examination there seems to be a constant: friendships. Parents don't want their kids to be lonely-- and it seems understandable. After all, who enjoys watching their children experience unhappiness? But what these parents don't understand is that when they let their children socialize with the world's children (in the name of trying to provide happiness for their children) they are trading Esau's birthright for Jacob's infamous bowl of stew. Tempting? At first, perhaps. But in the end, the happiness doesn't last and their children have self-destructed in the process. They traded their children's adult years (ones that could have included happy, stable marriages) for "fun-filled" years of youth. So what's the answer to the dilemna? Well, sometimes the answer is loneliness. Sometimes, it's OK to be lonely! The book of Proverbs says, "Do not withhold correction from a child, for if you beat him with a rod, he will not die. You shall beat him with a rod and deliver his soul from hell." During the teen years, many times the rod will take on the form of withholding what seems to be a "fun time." To rephrase the verse, "If you make your teen stay home this weekend, he will not die. You will make him stay home and socialize with his family and deliver his soul from hell." Evil company REALLY does corrupt good morals. (I Cor. 15:33) No one has ever been able to prove these Scriptures untrue. So girls, it really is OK to be lonely. If your loneliness means you are keeping yourself pure... If it means that you are trading lonely days NOW for fantastic days AHEAD... It's OK. Here's praying that the next school year will be one filled with lots of fun fellowship-- that our youth group here at First Baptist will experience it's sweetest, most spiritual days yet-- and that you will make the right choices all along the way.