Puberty

Even the title of this article got your attention, didn’t it? Maturing is a delicate subject to discuss, yet so important. My mother was actually more open in talking with me about reproduction than my father was. Neither gave me a Biblical perspective. I got the message from dad it wasn’t something you talk about. So I kept to myself these embarrassing changes and talked with no one.
As parents we know that the same hormones that produce physical changes also drastically affect the brain. Suddenly subjects that were before ‘dirty’ or shocking or, at least, uninteresting become intriguing. Along with these changes, Christian young people face feelings of guilt for entertaining such thoughts. Of course, maturing is all part of growing up; it is “common to man,” and part of God’s plan for them as it was for us.
The first place pubescent youths should be able to go to openly discuss these changes is to their parents. They must know it’s OK to talk about them with us and that we won’t be shocked or disappointed with them. However, most will not do it. This means we will probably need to initiate the subject.
My parents handled the subject the best they knew how. But I determined to improve and honor Christ by centering on His design principle. Neither did I want my children to learn these things from peers or from movies or magazines that would distort God’s pure plan.
My boys matured at very different rates. We talked about being modest, respectful around ladies, keeping hands off, things like that from their childhood. I tried to be sensitive to comments they made that indicated it was time for more specific information. With each one I took time alone to explain God’s design in marriage and the importance of staying pure for God and for their future mates. I encouraged them anytime to ask me questions they had. They rarely did. But I brought up the subject from time to time and found their struggles were as real as my own had been. Together we worked through them. I was also able to share the powerful testimony that Ruby and I waited for intimacy until after marriage. To my knowledge all my five married children did the same. It is a requirement for starting marriage without damage.
These increasingly strong drives come to young people years before they are ready in other ways for marriage. God wants them to trust Him to wait for the right time for their fulfillment. He wants to prove to them that 1 Cor. 10:13 really works. He wants to give them an opportunity to practice Luke 9:23- “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” But keeping them under control is a great challenge and it is wonderful when their dad and mom are there to help them succeed.