Kim looked steadily at the crowd of 200 kids. “Let me explain what holy is,” she said. “Holy means set apart for just one person’s use. It means it’s not for anyone else. Just for one person.”
She produced a toothbrush from her bag. “Like this toothbrush. This is my toothbrush. I used it this morning. You just had a snack and probably need to brush your teeth. Would you like to use my toothbrush?” The crowd erupted with a chorus of “no!!!” and “eeeew!” Not a single furry-toothed kid wanted to take her up on her offer.
Brilliant illustration, I thought. Even at a young age, kids know that toothbrushes are intimate things. You don’t just go around sharing toothbrushes: They are reserved for your mouth alone.
The toothbrush analogy came flooding back to mind this week while I was watching a TV show. As is the way of much entertainment, the story involved a (young, in-love, responsible, monogamous) dating couple. They were in bed together. Another show later that week depicted another couple waking up together—with different partners than they had woken up with a few weeks earlier in the season.
It got me thinking: How is it that we live in a world where we think that sharing toothbrushes is more intimate than sharing your body? Why does a crowd of children shy away from the thought of picking up a friend’s toothbrush and shoving it in their mouth, but we don’t bat an eyelid at the thought of someone picking up a friend and…(well, you know).
Is it the germs on a toothbrush? Sex involves more germs.
Is it the risk of disease? Sex has way more risk (and more reward, as I’ve written about here).
