by Christina Terry

Created on: October 08, 2009   Last Updated: November 28, 2009

Engaged to be married, Maria reflects on her previous relationships. She considers herself an imperfect good girl because growing up, although she didn't always listen, she always used Bible scriptures as a guideline. She's learned from experience how the decision to have sex or not to have sex affects your reputation, self-confidence and your relationship with the opposite sex. Thanks to her high moral standards she was known by her peers as a good girl, a girl that doesn't sleep around, and because of this gained respect from both females and more importantly males. She found that the longer she made them wait the more respect they gave you and the sooner you gave in to their sexual advances the less respect they had for you.

She had a few serious relationships before her fiance, one of which moved faster than she would have liked. It was fun at the time, she thought to herself. I thought I was in love. But now that she looks back she doesn't feel like it was true love - more a relationship that moved too fast, too soon. If she could go back she would wait until after she was married to start having sex. Although she loved her boyfriend at the time, sex brought them to a level neither of them was ready for. She became more attached to him and with that came added pressure to stay together even when they had problems that would normally end a relationship. She stayed committed to the relationship not because she was in love but because she had already given her all to him and didn't want another sexual partner. With words he planned to be with her forever and like any loving girlfriend she believed him. But now she knows that true commitment speaks with action. She smiles happily as she looks down at her ring finger.

We have come to accept that life comes with many hardships, but sometimes we forget that many of these hardships can be easily avoided. We can assume that if you choose to live a criminal life you are putting your life at risk and are more likely to spend time in jail. The same is true for couples that choose to stay celibate until marriage; they will avoid much emotional distress. Some might say that even married couples will experience emotional distress because of their sexual relationship, however if you marry for true love you are more likely to work out problems in the bed, thus eliminating long term emotional damage that can result from having premarital sex.

Your body and mind are your most valuable possessions in life. The value of the

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