Is it wrong to be intimidated before marriage?

It is absolutely appropriate to be intimidated before marriage. No one really knows what's going to happen after I dos are said and the organic, roasted birdseed is thrown and the fair trade, gluten-free honeymoon is. . .mooned. Before you're married, you don't know that your new spouse has a special drawer just for over-priced wooden spoons he got on a missions trip to Kenya. You don't know that she is allergic to all types of cleaner and it is your responsibility to scrub the tub. And neither of you know what that ten-week-old puppy will do to the carpet in your brand-new house. No. You really don't.

She's crying because you didn't fill her stocking for Christmas. You don't even own a stocking. He's in agony because who knew lawns have poison ivy and he's horribly allergic. She didn't know a man could own so many socks. He didn't know there were that many baseball games in a summer.

And we haven't even touched on the subject of in-laws.

It is absolutely biblical to be intimidated before marriage. You know nothing. But you'll figure it out as long as you remember you're on the same side. And prayer. Prayer's a biggie.

What's not okay is being intimate before marriage. Ironically, this is one area that's better if you're slightly clueless beforehand. Discovering the physical side of the relationship within the security and trust of marriage only makes your bond stronger. Being intimidated because you haven't been intimate is part of the fun of the honeymoon.

But you want to really be intimidated? Wait nine months.

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