@PatsKy8135 26 January 2021 edited more from that month

Be a Principled-Driven Person

I got married at ***32***, pregnant at ***35***, delivered my baby at ***36*** and at **37** being a mom without a doubt are the most special moments of my life however before such journey was the reality of being laughed at and told I was such an old fashion and my principle does not exist anymore. ***I didn't know there is an expiration date for it?***

I have been reflecting on what to write, went back to my memory lane, still what persisted was the idea of *'having sex before marriage!*" I have kept it for so long literally for 32 years because my principle would always be, "*no baby outside matrimony*" and that's when the problem started.

During my university, as we were in the last semester, among the class, I was one of those ***N.B.S.B*** (N**o Boyfriend Since Birth)** because it was not my priority. All my university life was circulated with my part-time job and schoolwork so there's no such thing as nightlife nor dating for me. My classmates would merely teased, I told them my priority was something else. One day, they even brought up an idea, that all Seniors won't pass the semester without a boyfriend as it was a prerequisite. At the back of my mind, how come this issue of having a boyfriend is such a big deal? Fast forward, I graduated without a boyfriend and decided to apply for a teaching job in a private institution in my country. I was accepted for the job and I started to go out with my colleagues for their ***karaoke session every Friday night*** or else they would say, I'm a killjoy!

True enough there was this guy with whom we had sort of mutual understanding, went out on multiple dates, camped out together but I ended it up momentarily because his silly statement was, "***If I love him, I should give myself to him!*** (I was 23 and in my circle of friends, sex is part of the relationship but for me, it ***must be done within the context of marriage.*** ***He didn't show up afterward. Ghost moment followed thereafter.*** So I worked, went out on a friendly date until I turned ***29*** that my relatives, friends, and family told me I was almost on my last trip, no boyfriend, nothing at all and I will not bound for anything else as for them I have no destination in my life. Hmm, so how's that for a judgement? Not until, I was hired for an overseas teaching job. https://open.lbry.com/@PatSky2783:4/Precious-Times-and-Memories-in-Doha:3 As **I turned** ***32*** **and met my ex-boyfriend (**now my husband**) when we're both in the Middle East, at times we were tempted to do it and at my age** ***"without experience"*** so they say, was a bit uncanny.

Mind you my friends were laughing at my old school idea! I was so driven with my principle to do it ***within matrimony firmly.***  Marriage first and then sex afterward because God has given this gift only for ***married couple*****.**  Simple to say but hard to do as most people would say. I always had guys who would show up at the beginning and "ghosting" in the end because on what I believed on. ***Yet no regrets, I'm glad I had waited for the right time.*** Now with my current state, I can attest that if a man loves a woman, he must respect her idea of waiting for the right time. *Sex* ***alone will never be an expression of lasting relationship because at times we tend to equate lust for love*** therefore physical expression of love could be fully enjoyed when both partners are into a **s*****erious and committed relationship*****,** *let alone marriage.* I am at peace with this decision because refraining myself from any sexual activities outside matrimony gives me that firm conviction of "***self-respect***" as the bible says, ***"but if they do not have self-control, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn with passion!"*** 1 Corinthians 7:9 https://youtu.be/CUIDMUYypck *Questions for your TIPS:* *1. Which life's principle do you adhere up until today?* *2. Was there a point wherein you feel like giving in?* *3. What particular scenario and how did you deal with it?* *Kindly share your noisecash profile link so I could visit and would gladly give more tips. *You can also check on my post here* *https://www.publish0x.com/patjules83/are-you-a-principle-centered-person-xqkqkow*

`Lead Image:Photo by Alejandro Martinez from Pexels` `Image of four people at a campsite: Photo by Andrea Piacquadiao from Pexels` `The rest of the images are mine.` `badges earned by the author and property of Uptrennd University edited via PicsArt`