to read or not to read? (to watch or not to watch?)

Everyone is talking about "50 Shades of Grey" and I mean everyone. I was laying in bed a few mornings ago and I was thinking about this book as well as the movie Magic Mike. For some reason America feels that the women in it are so sex deprived that they have to write a book and make a movie to make women swoon. I have gone back and forth on this issue of reading this book and going to see this movie. I have decided on 'no' to both. I can't exactly put a finger on the reason why. There are a few, I suppose. One being that I can't imagine my husband going out and seeing a movie that had a bunch of female strippers prancing around in almost nothing.

My husband and I have a very good relationship. We aren't perfect by any means, but we communicate, we love each other, we have fun together....we are best friends. We have been married almost 3 years and it hasn't always been easy. We have gone to counseling once for a period of time, not because we were on the brink of separation, but because we needed to learn how to better communicate. I also should mention that we both believe in and love Jesus. This is a huge part of our relationship. And another huge reason as to why I feel convicted not to read this book or see the movie, Magic Mike.

The other day my husband said to me "If you go see Magic Mike I am going to stay home and watch porn all day." He was joking, but it made me think. Am I ok with him staying home and watching porn all day? My answer is no (for a lot of reasons.)  A lot of people think that its totally ok for couples to do this. I however do not. We have a great sex life and I don't feel like we need to seek this 'pleasure' in any other way than with each other. It would totally bother me if he stayed home and watched porn all day just so I could go see a movie with a bunch of really hot guys. As I thought about this, I also thought about the book "50 Shades of Grey." Its basically the same thing, just with WAY more detail.

I have read excerpts from the book online, and whoa. Of course its arousing and I wanted to read more, I mean who wouldn't? Our bodies were made to want sex and pleasure, and its not wrong to want this. I just feel like I can't justify reading this book and watching Magic Mike. I can't think of one single reason of how my life would be improved by doing either of these things. Do I want to see the movie? Yes. Do I want to read the book? Absolutely. But I feel a resounding voice in my head saying, you really don't need to.

Like I said - I can't fully explain my reasons for not reading these books or going to see Magic Mike. I just feel overwhelmingly convited not to. I do not judge you if you have read the books or seen the movie. In fact, if I'm being honest, I sort of envy you. I just can't do it. I read this quote and it made me think, 'exactly.'

 "I wouldn’t drive my Envoy into the front of an oncoming semi-truck any more than I would open the pages of Fifty Shades of Grey. I love my marriage, my God, and myself too much." [Dannah Gresh]

My reasoning is weak and my presentation even weaker, but these are my thoughts. You may think I'm weird, or prude, or any number of things. But I don't really care. Like I said in my "about me" paragraph...I'm ok with who I am and the things I believe in. I haven't always been confident, and I'm still insecure in many ways, but right now, I'm totally ok with my decision. It doesn't have to be your decision, and I'm not even trying to change your mind, or the worlds mind. But this is my mind and its made up.