One of the saddest thoughts I've ever heard came from the mouths of several students this summer.

My friend & coworker, Lane, and I were having a discussion with about 25 Sr. High girls and a few other sponsors. We were talking about what they communicate to guys by their dress, by their words, and by their Facebook profile pics. But the conversation got a lot deeper than that. We tried to tell them how valuable they are, and what a beautiful marriage they can have one day.

That is when several of them were honest, and shared something that I found very disheartening. Their basic belief was that they probably wouldn't have a good marriage. They hadn't seen many good marriages and figured the odds were against them. I'm afraid many girls and grown women believe this.

I made it a habit in my 15 years of working with students to tell them often that they could one day have a good marriage. But it's hard for students to believe this when they don't see it consistently modeled. In saying all of this, it's not my intention to make anyone feel guilty or bad, but it is to say that adults have a huge responsibility to give young people hope.

And I believe with all my heart that a kid with awful parents or no parents can have a great marriage. The odds aren't in their favor, but God is bigger than those odds. He's worked this miracle before and will do it again.

I got to perform a wedding this weekend, and it was beautiful to see two people who loved God with all of their hearts and are following His plan for marriage - and the Bible turns out to be the wisest marriage book ever written.

I also talked to a neighbor this weekend who keeps getting beaten-up by her husband. She said, "I'm just one of those stupid girls who always goes back cause I love him." When I told her that she was valuable and worth more than that, I could tell she didn't understand.

I hope, that if you have the opportunity, you will leverage your influence to encourage young people in this area. They so desperately need it. Oh, and if you need a little inspiration, I got it:

1. Check out the link below. This short film is masterfully done, and it tells of the hope that can reside in the heart of a little girl. If only girls would not settle for anything less than a guy who could be like this. And if only guys would understand that this is what they want. It almost made me even cry a bit.
http://www.vimeo.com/877053?pg=embed&sec=877053

2. On a previous blog, my good friend David wrote this:
...I still have a few cards from my birthday or Christmas and i remember you writing that in ten years i'll have a wonderful wife.....and i do!!! Yay!!!