the story of Cassidy Ladd as told to RTF Staff Writer Sarah Rupp

Cassidy pressed the eraser of her pencil to her lips and stared at the form for the school play. “A Midsummer Night’s Dream by Shakespeare” lined the top of the page in big, bold lettering, and three questions followed. Checks marked the page beside the other two, but the third question had Cassidy stumped: “Do you mind kissing on stage?”

Her mind took her back to the day when she was sitting in her car and felt God leading her not to kiss until her wedding day. “To be honest, the idea just came out of the blue,” Cassidy says. “I’d never heard of anyone else doing it before. It was definitely God-led!” So Cassidy made a promise to God that she would save her first kiss for marriage.

But in that moment, staring at that piece of paper, it was one of the hardest decisions she had made. Cassidy enjoyed acting and was hoping for a lead role in this year’s play. She knew by saying no, she would not get the lead part.

She hesitated before slowly lowering her pencil to mark a check beside the word “no,” and explained her motive on the line asking why not.

“My heart really broke when I wrote that I wouldn’t kiss, [since A Midsummer Night’s Dream] was about love.” Cassidy says. “I was completely crushed because I didn’t think I’d get the part.”

The next day at school, the director met her in the hallway before classes began. “Did you know that, when Hermia,” the director said, speaking of the lead female role in the play, “was in the woods with Lysander, she decided to sleep far away from him for fear that she would give up her morals?”

Cassidy wondered if he could be hinting at something, but she didn’t want to get her hopes up. When they began to cast the roles, they announced they would be editing the play to avoid all kissing. “And by the way,” the director continued, “Cassidy, you got the part of Hermia.”

Cassidy’s heart leapt with joy in that moment as she praised God for His faithfulness when she took a stand for what she believed. Not only did she get her first lead role, her choice to simply obey God made an impact on the entire play.

What kind of standards is God calling you to set? Not kissing isn’t for everyone. Ask God where He wants you to draw the line personally.

Have you ever taken a stand for what you know is right? How were others affected by it?

Sarah Rupp is a freelance writer who loves God, reading, fashion, and music, as well as writing of course! You can find her over at her blog, Sarah’s Words of Witsdom, or her fashion and beauty blog, Mod Style Lounge. She enjoys connecting with readers and other writers though comments.