This is a tough topic for parents of adult children. There are many books and advice available and I've read most of them. One of my most favorites is in the form of a film, "Pamela's Prayer". Jeff and I watched it when our kids were little and it has become our prayer for many years. Then as a few of them have become old enough we watched it with them and thankfully they have shared our enthusiasm and have adopted such values as their own.
It expresses saving oneself for their husband or wife, and not allowing anyone else to share your heart or anything physical. I know it's a radical thought in this day and age! In the film, they even save their first kiss for their wedding ceramony. I've been to a couple of weddings where the bride and groom have done this and it's a beautiful thing! They certainly have no regrets, no baggage, and no memories to fall back on!
We have hit our kids pretty hard with the importance of this! Because who you marry is the second most important decision you make in your whole life! Deciding to be born again is the first! (See John Chapter 3) So just like when you go to the store to buy a candy bar, you don't want to buy one that has the seal opened, or maybe even one with a bite already taken out of it! You want the one that is the least handled, the least touched, and protected from all outside elements! We tell our kids that their future spouse will want the same thing!
Purity matters to God! And we as mothers and fathers need to take it seriously and share the importance of it and it's consequences with our children. It involves more than just praying about it, and it may be as simple as watching a movie together to get the conversation in that direction.
