A few years ago, I attended a bridal shower for a co-worker at Olive Garden. Before she opened her gifts, our boss presented the bride-to-be with a decorated box and then proceeded to read a story explaining the purpose of the mysterious metal box…
She read about a young couple who got married with very little money. They weren’t able to take a long honeymoon, but they planned a dream vacation to Hawaii. They decided every time they made love (my boss looked over her shoulder and whispered when she read that part) they would put a dollar in a metal box towards their Hawaii fund. Five kids and fifty years later, they had enough money saved from their Hawaii fund for airfare, a ten day stay, and plenty of spending money. When each of their kids married, they presented them with a metal box and shared their love story.
What a fun story! How exciting to be able to celebrate a lifetime of romance with a fun-filled getaway. What struck me the most about this story was that over the course of fifty years the couple remained focused on each other. With five kids and the stresses of work (he was a policeman and she was a teacher) they still found time to be together.
Before marriage, it seems completely conceivable that a couple could save that much money by slipping a dollar into a box each time they tip toed to the bedroom, but the reality of marriage is that you have to be purposeful if you don’t want to lose sight of each other. I wonder how many nights they would have missed out on special time together if that box had not been there as a reminder to slow down and enjoy each other. Perhaps even one of their precious children would not have been born.
Waiting for marriage to enjoy sex is a difficult feat, especially when society keeps pushing you towards promiscuity. Fifty years ago, a sexually active young person would be talk of the town. Now people wonder if something is wrong with you if you are not sleeping around. We know it’s a long road, but waiting is worth it. Just as this story shows, you will have a lifetime to enjoy a sexual relationship with your spouse – one that will not lead to regret, shame, or insecurity.
About ten years ago, my grandmother said the following words to me with her thick adorable Southern accent: “Honey… when you get married… and you do that… and you’ve never done that before… OOOHHHH what a feelin’ it is!” I don’t think I have ever laughed that hard ever before or since. What she meant to say was that going into your wedding night pure before God and your husband is a wonderful feeling, but I think the other translation is funnier!
If you are planning for marriage, consider buying and decorating your own metal box. Take it with you on your honeymoon and present the savings plan to your new spouse as a gift. Use it as a reminder to always enjoy each other (Proverbs 5:19). In the weeks leading up to your wedding, read the Song of Solomon several times. Be patient as you wait and fill your mind with what God’s Word says about the marriage bed.
Do you have ideas as to how you will keep the spark alive in your future marriage?
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