I was saved at an early age and grew up in a Christian household. But as we all know, being a Christian does not mean that you are suddenly perfect, nor does it mean that your life becomes perfect. You still get behind on your bills, get sick, break your pencil lead, and lose your car keys. Being a Christian, however, does mean that you take Christ into your life and strive to be like him. You learn to talk like he talked, walk like he walked and love like he loved. You also learn to see things from His perspective.

And so I watched...

My mother is one of the most patient and loving people I know. She is kind to her core and loves without reason. She taught me what it means to be a woman, how to love, nurture, help, and appreciate. My father is one of the strongest and most hardworking men I know. He is tough and determined, but compassionate as well. It was he who taught me my worth as woman, that I should have expectations and goals, that I should settle for nothing but the best and if I wanted something, to go get it.

My parents, unlike the majority of first-time married couples today, are not divorced. They met at a young age in high school and were married before graduating; they are still together 21 years later. They worked through many rough patches throughout the years, struggling as newlyweds and young parents raising three children. They were pushed past their limits and dug their way out of trouble just like everybody else.

However, there were a few times during the "rough patches" that I was sure the rocky boat that was their marriage would tip and sink, tearing into the perfectly beautiful and untouchable realm of my childhood, which I shared with my younger brother and sister. And it was also during these times of adversity that I learned the most from my parents, because instead of throwing in the towel and calling it quits, they dumped their heartache and fears at the feet of the Father. My parents' marriage was by no means perfect, but it was something that I admired them for and wanted for myself one day.

It's hard to image myself with 2 children at the age of 20 (my current age, and an impossibility in my mind), but that's exactly what life was like for my parents. And although I admit my immaturity as a young adult and recognize how unprepared I am for this stage in my life, I find myself with a desire for what they shared, and still share to this day. I long for love and companionship and a family, but most of all I long for God to work in my marriage the way He did with my mom and dad. I want the shared responsibility and camaraderie of serving the Lord and making a difference for the kingdom together.

Seeing the devotion and dedication my parents put into their marriage sobered me quickly as a teenager when it came to dating, and therefore I removed myself from the dating scene. I waited patiently, promising that I would only allow myself to date when I started college, to ensure a more mature level and clearer view of what it meant to "date." But all the while I would find myself getting lonely, so this is when I decided to start writing letters to my future husband. Each time I write a letter, I pray to God first, asking Him to give me a reflective attitude and open heart like my parents so that one day I can give my letters to the man I haven't met.

Courtney Moore is a 20 year old Pensacola, Florida native seeking God's will as a Teacher Education major and is a sophomore at the Free Will Baptist Bible College.