The Earring

Book 6 Part 3

Jacob quoted the verse without meeting Faith's eyes.

"So you believe God wants you to marry Teresa?"

"That's what it sounds like to me."

"The verse says 'a man.' You're not considered a man yet."

"Not in American society, but in Biblical days I would have been. And I did what only a man can. I impregnated a girl."

"True. Do you believe God wants you to apply this verse outside of its cultural context?"

"I believe God wants me to take responsibility for my actions."

"Does that necessarily translate into marriage?"

"Maybe. Read the rest of the list and then tell me what you think."

His pro list included the things they had already discussed. In addition there were: "protect Teresa from her Dad, avoid temptation, and show my Dad that I take my responsibility seriously."

The con side of the list was short but telling: give up my freedom, sacrifice college for trade school, risk everything on a marriage with poor odds, and forfeit my scholarship.

Faith looked up at Jacob.

"We've already talked about most of the pro side. I'm not sure that trying to prove something to your Dad is a good reason for marriage, and I doubt that marriage is the only way to protect Teresa from her Dad. I do agree that it's best to avoid temptation, but again marriage might not be the only way to do that."

"And the cons?" he asked.

"Let's look at them one at a time. Just what freedom would you be forfeiting? Freedom to date?"

"Not really. I've already forfeited that. Teresa and I are exclusive."

"But exclusivity is a lot easier to get out of if there isn't a binding legal contract."

"I suppose. What I was thinking about was having to discuss all of my decisions with Teresa before I act. I mean, when you get married, you're supposed to take the other person's views into consideration. I wouldn't even be able to spend my own money."

"If that's what you believe, then you're ahead of a lot of men I know," Faith said. "And you're right. The Bible tells us that when we marry, two become one. That means that you put your spouse's well being before your own. So, I guess you would be giving up your freedom." Faith looked down at the list. "You say you'll be sacrificing college for trade school. Why's that?"

"Trade school doesn't take as long to get a degree. You can start working full time a lot sooner."

"If you don't have a child to support, does it matter how long it is before you start working full time?"

"I'll still have a wife to take care of."

"She could work, too. How would that differ financially from having a roommate?"

"Hmm." He pulled on his ear. "I'm not sure there would be any difference. If I went to college, I would have the same bills as if I were doing something else. All it would do is put off us thinking about starting a family or buying a house."

"Your third con is 'risk everything on a marriage with poor odds.'"

"You said yourself that most teen marriages don't take."

"That's what statistics show."

"But some do work out. What makes the difference?"