Lately, it seems that several young women that have come to the center for pregnancy tests have been disappointed after I tell them their test was negative. Why is this? Probably because they are looking for someone to love them and they believe a baby will fill this need.
After I tell them their test was negative, I usually ask them how they're feeling. Often, they readily admit they are disappointed. It doesn't matter if they aren't married, or if they don't know who the father of the baby is, or if they aren't employed, or if they are only 16 years old. No, these things do not matter. Only love matters. And a baby would offer that love...at least that's what they think.
It is an idylic and even a romantic notion - being with child and having something to call your own. Indeed, the human heart has a vaccuum mechanism within and in desperation we fill it with many things. It may be material possessions, drugs, alcohol, sex, exercise, food, fame, recognition, relationships, and yes, even a baby.
The best part about telling these young girls, disappointed by the news that her pregnancy test is negative, is telling them that their longing for love and belonging can be met by the One who died for them and loves them unconditionally. For some of these young women, they are at a place where they are ready to hear the gospel and I have the privilege of introducing them to Jesus Christ - that He may be formed in them (Galatians 4:19). Others, are not ready - the soil of their hearts remains hard and stony.
Only Jesus Christ can fill the longing in our heart for love that is true and unfailing. And when the pregnancy test is negative, the result can be very positive for the women I meet with who then get to hear the Good News!
Monday, April 4, 2011
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
The Role of the Father
I've been meeting regularly with a young pregnant couple for Resource Classes. They are going through the lessons in our class on Child Development. Today we were going to go over the lesson entitled, The Role of the Father.
Since I met this young couple, the father of the baby has been at every appointment. He has shown great interest about preparing for his new role as a father. I'm not sure that even with the best of preparations, anyone is totally and adequately quite ready for parenthood. But, I know that trying to learn about the things that will equip you for the job is very important. After all, isn't parenting the most important job of all? You are impacting a human life. Your influence can be great, good, fair, poor, bad, and even evil. Your role as a parent is critical to how a child develops in every aspect of life - physically, emotionally, mentally, socially, and spiritually. The responsibility is indeed great.
Now I, of course am not a father, so I am already at a disadvantage in teaching this lesson. Oh for some men to be involved in the ministry of Pregnancy Resource Centers across the country! But until we have some male volunteers at the Center, I have young first time fathers coming with hungry hearts to learn about fatherhood. So it is at this venue where I trust my God to help me discuss The Role of the Father in such a way the new dad leaves not only understanding his responsibility before God, but desires to put his hands to the plow and do the job!
Today's lesson was one of the best lessons I have had the privilege of teaching. This is God's grace. I sensed God's Spirit with me and drawing the young man. We had a great conversation. It was really interesting observing the young mother take all this in. She was quiet, but you could tell she was listening very closely. I believe The Role of the Father is best exemplified when one has entered into a real relationship with God, the Heavenly Father. This lesson became the segue to sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with this couple. It was one experience at the Pregnancy Resource Center I will most likely never forget. It is my prayer that this couple, this young new father and this young new mother will never forget it either. I pray that they will embrace the Words of Life they heard this day and enter into a forever relationship with my Heavenly Father!
Since I met this young couple, the father of the baby has been at every appointment. He has shown great interest about preparing for his new role as a father. I'm not sure that even with the best of preparations, anyone is totally and adequately quite ready for parenthood. But, I know that trying to learn about the things that will equip you for the job is very important. After all, isn't parenting the most important job of all? You are impacting a human life. Your influence can be great, good, fair, poor, bad, and even evil. Your role as a parent is critical to how a child develops in every aspect of life - physically, emotionally, mentally, socially, and spiritually. The responsibility is indeed great.
Now I, of course am not a father, so I am already at a disadvantage in teaching this lesson. Oh for some men to be involved in the ministry of Pregnancy Resource Centers across the country! But until we have some male volunteers at the Center, I have young first time fathers coming with hungry hearts to learn about fatherhood. So it is at this venue where I trust my God to help me discuss The Role of the Father in such a way the new dad leaves not only understanding his responsibility before God, but desires to put his hands to the plow and do the job!
Today's lesson was one of the best lessons I have had the privilege of teaching. This is God's grace. I sensed God's Spirit with me and drawing the young man. We had a great conversation. It was really interesting observing the young mother take all this in. She was quiet, but you could tell she was listening very closely. I believe The Role of the Father is best exemplified when one has entered into a real relationship with God, the Heavenly Father. This lesson became the segue to sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with this couple. It was one experience at the Pregnancy Resource Center I will most likely never forget. It is my prayer that this couple, this young new father and this young new mother will never forget it either. I pray that they will embrace the Words of Life they heard this day and enter into a forever relationship with my Heavenly Father!
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Hope for a Brave Young Woman
She had such a sweet spirit about her. She was from Africa and had no family here with her. She was a student at one of the local colleges and was about to graduate. She came to the center with an untimely pregnancy and her boyfriend told her to abort the baby. She couldn't even consider the idea so she did a very brave thing...she broke up with her boyfriend and came to see her baby via ultrasound.
The ultrasound showed an 11 week old baby full of movement and a strong heartbeat. The young girl's countenance beamed like the sun.
Not many young women can do such a brave thing as that. Many are too insecure and frightened to stand strong under that kind of pressure. But this girl did. She said that she could never consider an abortion because "it would be like murder." And she told me that she could "never live with that haunting her all her life." Wow, this girl knew exactly what abortion meant and she knew it involved taking a huge emotional risk that could stay with her for the rest of her life. I told her that she was thinking very clearly and that I thought she was very strong. I told her that her courageous spirit would be an asset in her role as a young single mother. I also told her that she did not have to stand alone. Jesus Christ would stand with her and help her on this journey.
Our conversation continued and became quite interesting. She said she did not want to just embrace the "religion" of Christianity. She liked all the religions. She said she had many kinds of friends of different faiths and that she considered herself a "spiritualist." Hmm...maybe she was a little too brave. Maybe she was a little too strong and independent.
I asked her to consider something that Jesus once said. I told her that He said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and that no one comes to the Father but through Me." I encouraged her to be brave enough to ask Jesus to reveal to her what He meant by that. I told her that I believed since she was a "spiritualist" that she was therefore a seeker and a seeker of truth. I told her that not all religions were equal, nor did they all lead to the same destination. I encouraged her to think about what Jesus said. She said that she would. I asked her if I could pray for her and she reached out to take my hands in hers. I took hold of her hands and prayed that this young woman would be brave enough to take hold of Christ and His Words.
She is coming back for parenting classes and until then I will pray for this girl to be brave enough to see her great need for a Savior. His name is Jesus and as a single mom, she will need Him more than she can possibly imagine.
The ultrasound showed an 11 week old baby full of movement and a strong heartbeat. The young girl's countenance beamed like the sun.
Not many young women can do such a brave thing as that. Many are too insecure and frightened to stand strong under that kind of pressure. But this girl did. She said that she could never consider an abortion because "it would be like murder." And she told me that she could "never live with that haunting her all her life." Wow, this girl knew exactly what abortion meant and she knew it involved taking a huge emotional risk that could stay with her for the rest of her life. I told her that she was thinking very clearly and that I thought she was very strong. I told her that her courageous spirit would be an asset in her role as a young single mother. I also told her that she did not have to stand alone. Jesus Christ would stand with her and help her on this journey.
Our conversation continued and became quite interesting. She said she did not want to just embrace the "religion" of Christianity. She liked all the religions. She said she had many kinds of friends of different faiths and that she considered herself a "spiritualist." Hmm...maybe she was a little too brave. Maybe she was a little too strong and independent.
I asked her to consider something that Jesus once said. I told her that He said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and that no one comes to the Father but through Me." I encouraged her to be brave enough to ask Jesus to reveal to her what He meant by that. I told her that I believed since she was a "spiritualist" that she was therefore a seeker and a seeker of truth. I told her that not all religions were equal, nor did they all lead to the same destination. I encouraged her to think about what Jesus said. She said that she would. I asked her if I could pray for her and she reached out to take my hands in hers. I took hold of her hands and prayed that this young woman would be brave enough to take hold of Christ and His Words.
She is coming back for parenting classes and until then I will pray for this girl to be brave enough to see her great need for a Savior. His name is Jesus and as a single mom, she will need Him more than she can possibly imagine.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Sixteen and Pregnant
The pregnant sixteen year old girl arrived at the Center with her boyfriend, the father of the baby. They came to go over the first lesson in a series of the Developmental Stages of a Newborn. While other sixteen year old teenagers were busy doing homework or hanging out with friends, they were learning about facts such as, 1) a newborn will sleep most of the day and be awake most of the night, 2) a one month old's eyesight is still developing and only sees objects six inches away, and 3) a baby's birth weight usually doubles by six months of age. Those were just a few of the many things they were being taught, and within a matter of months, would experience firsthand.
I was 26 when I had my first child. At 26, I felt overwhelmed with the responsibility of raising a child. At 26, I felt like I wasn't prepared or mature enough to be a mother. I cannot imagine being pregnant and having a child at the age of sixteen.
As I met with this young girl and young man I asked them if they knew that their lives would be radically different and that having a baby was a really big deal. The carefree life of a teenager was now behind them. It's probable that they don't have any idea what lies ahead. Both were still students in high school. Both were still living at home with their parents. The young man did not have a job. They were in for a major life adjustment.
While I praise the Lord that they have chosen life for their baby, my heart is saddened that they will have to do some growing up very quickly and the life they're romanticizing about with a new born will soon be dispelled with reality. Newborns have a tendency to cry a lot, wake up many times through the night, and keep you very busy. Diapers need changing, bellies need to be filled, and often they just need to be held. Newborns are totally dependent on their parents for their every need. They need a constant watchful and attentive eye. And then comes toddlerhood!
Will these sixteen year olds be ready to offer their child these things while their friends enjoy the American teen life free from the responsibilities of parenthood? One thing is for certain, they will need a lot of encouragement and guidance. It is my hope that they will be humble and teachable. It is my hope that they will realize they have closed the door on their teenage years and have entered into grown up territory. It is my prayer that they look to the Lord to help them be the responsible parents they will need to be.
It has been said that the stats on abortion are decreasing. This is something to rejoice about. It is also being said that the number of teen pregnancies are on the rise. How will the fact that teens, practically babies themselves, having babies affect the fabric of our culture. How will the children of these teen children be raised, really?
It's kind of a scary thought and makes me wonder what we can do to prevent our teens from getting into this situation. How can our teens abstain from the most intimate act when they live in a sex saturated culture full of relativism and without any moral compass? Is it even possible to expect our teens not to have sex?
While it is right for the church to support the woman with an unplanned pregnancy, I feel it is also still the church's responsibility to tow the line on God's standard of sexual activity. If the church does not, then who will? No one wants to be called out as being judgmental when making statements about another person's sexual life and conduct. But, the Lord has already judged such things. We are merely called to be His mouth piece. What is difficult for me is to know and to find the balance of offering support while pointing to godly standards. Anyone can be accepting and supportive of a sinful life. But it takes moral courage to dare to be different and say as Jesus would say, "Go and sin no more." This is not popular even in our American mainstream churches. And this gives me cause for grave concern not to mention the heaviness I feel in my heart.
I want to make a difference at the Pregnancy Resource Center I volunteer at. But I want to make the right kind of difference that would please my Heavenly Father. I know that the Bible says that His commandments are not burdensome. Instead, when obeyed they offer the promise of life, peace and true joy. I must be intentional about letting others know of God's standard. That is part of how I am to love my neighbor. I must also be intentional to encourage them to repent when they live in a way contrary to God's Word. I am not responsible for their response. I am responsible to be faithful to God and leave the rest to Him.
As I get the opportunity to speak into the lives of more and more pregnant young women outside of wedlock this year, I pray for God's unction and Christ's tenderness to go before me.
I was 26 when I had my first child. At 26, I felt overwhelmed with the responsibility of raising a child. At 26, I felt like I wasn't prepared or mature enough to be a mother. I cannot imagine being pregnant and having a child at the age of sixteen.
As I met with this young girl and young man I asked them if they knew that their lives would be radically different and that having a baby was a really big deal. The carefree life of a teenager was now behind them. It's probable that they don't have any idea what lies ahead. Both were still students in high school. Both were still living at home with their parents. The young man did not have a job. They were in for a major life adjustment.
While I praise the Lord that they have chosen life for their baby, my heart is saddened that they will have to do some growing up very quickly and the life they're romanticizing about with a new born will soon be dispelled with reality. Newborns have a tendency to cry a lot, wake up many times through the night, and keep you very busy. Diapers need changing, bellies need to be filled, and often they just need to be held. Newborns are totally dependent on their parents for their every need. They need a constant watchful and attentive eye. And then comes toddlerhood!
Will these sixteen year olds be ready to offer their child these things while their friends enjoy the American teen life free from the responsibilities of parenthood? One thing is for certain, they will need a lot of encouragement and guidance. It is my hope that they will be humble and teachable. It is my hope that they will realize they have closed the door on their teenage years and have entered into grown up territory. It is my prayer that they look to the Lord to help them be the responsible parents they will need to be.
It has been said that the stats on abortion are decreasing. This is something to rejoice about. It is also being said that the number of teen pregnancies are on the rise. How will the fact that teens, practically babies themselves, having babies affect the fabric of our culture. How will the children of these teen children be raised, really?
It's kind of a scary thought and makes me wonder what we can do to prevent our teens from getting into this situation. How can our teens abstain from the most intimate act when they live in a sex saturated culture full of relativism and without any moral compass? Is it even possible to expect our teens not to have sex?
While it is right for the church to support the woman with an unplanned pregnancy, I feel it is also still the church's responsibility to tow the line on God's standard of sexual activity. If the church does not, then who will? No one wants to be called out as being judgmental when making statements about another person's sexual life and conduct. But, the Lord has already judged such things. We are merely called to be His mouth piece. What is difficult for me is to know and to find the balance of offering support while pointing to godly standards. Anyone can be accepting and supportive of a sinful life. But it takes moral courage to dare to be different and say as Jesus would say, "Go and sin no more." This is not popular even in our American mainstream churches. And this gives me cause for grave concern not to mention the heaviness I feel in my heart.
I want to make a difference at the Pregnancy Resource Center I volunteer at. But I want to make the right kind of difference that would please my Heavenly Father. I know that the Bible says that His commandments are not burdensome. Instead, when obeyed they offer the promise of life, peace and true joy. I must be intentional about letting others know of God's standard. That is part of how I am to love my neighbor. I must also be intentional to encourage them to repent when they live in a way contrary to God's Word. I am not responsible for their response. I am responsible to be faithful to God and leave the rest to Him.
As I get the opportunity to speak into the lives of more and more pregnant young women outside of wedlock this year, I pray for God's unction and Christ's tenderness to go before me.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Unrelenting Love
Serving at a PRC has had an incredible impact on me. Initially, I thought I would volunteer and allow God to use me to be a blessing and an instrument of His unrelenting love to women in need. I wanted to learn to love women who's lives weren't neat and pretty. I wanted to learn to love women who were as Gomer in the book of Hosea. I wanted to cast off all judgement and in this kind of unrelenting love, reach out to them in the Spirit of Christ.
While this has been the case by the grace of God working in my life, something else has occured. I have become the recipient of His unrelenting love. The word unrelent means to be determined and unyielding. It means not weakening or easing up or diminishing in strength. Synonyms include insistent, pounding, indefatigable, and inexorable. Indefatigable! That means God never tires to love me. Inexorable! That means His love for me is unstoppable or adamant!
Why would God illuminate my soul to understand in a deeper way His love for me when I am thinking it's not about me...it's about God loving these women through me. Who knew? Of course God would take this course of action. Of course He would reveal His unrelenting love to me. Why? First of all, because the very nature of my heart is just like the women who come into the center. And even though I am indeed a new creature in Christ, the fleshly nature in my heart has not been totally sanctified. God's love for me, the Christian who is working out her salvation and not yet sanctified is indeed unrelenting.
When I see things in my heart that aren't neat and pretty, it affords an opportunity to ask the question, "Wow, what's that all about? You are a Christian, why do you see that impatience, that anxiety, that apathy, or unbelief, etc. in your heart?" And then, you experience that unrelenting love of God for you in that condition! He does not give up or cave in or change His mind or lesson His affection because I am not yet fully sanctified. Rather, He reveals it all the more. Romans 5:8 says, "God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." And thus it is this way all through our Christian pilgrimage. Before we began our journey, He loves. At the beginning of our journey, He loves. In the middle of our journey He loves. And, at the very end of our journey, He loves. Like waves His love comes and washes over our soul. As waves, it intesifies as the journey continues. And we come to that place where we are able to comprehend the very breadth, length, height and depth of the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge and brings us to a place of the filling up to all the fulness of God! This is the prayer found in Ephesians chapter 3. This filling of unrelenting love experienced and known by one can have a powerful overflow to others. This is how we learn to love others. This is how I am learning to love the woman who comes to the center, who has multiple sleeping partners, who has had several abortions, who carries sexual disease, who doesn't work, who drinks and does drugs, and is extremely self-centered. This is how I love her. God's waves of unrelenting love crashing over my unsanctified soul never to become less intense because I am still a work in progress. And this is how I love my God. "I love Him, because He first loved me," I John 4:19.
The words of the following song are now my heart's own melody:
You won't relent until you have it all, My heart is Yours
You won't relent until you have it all, My heart is Yours
I'll set You as a seal upon my heart, as a seal upon my arm
For there is love as strong as death, jealousy demanding as the grave
And many waters cannot quench this love
Come be the fire inside of me, Come be the flame upon my heart
Come be the fire inside of me, until You and I are one
Then I will truly love like Jesus loved.
While this has been the case by the grace of God working in my life, something else has occured. I have become the recipient of His unrelenting love. The word unrelent means to be determined and unyielding. It means not weakening or easing up or diminishing in strength. Synonyms include insistent, pounding, indefatigable, and inexorable. Indefatigable! That means God never tires to love me. Inexorable! That means His love for me is unstoppable or adamant!
Why would God illuminate my soul to understand in a deeper way His love for me when I am thinking it's not about me...it's about God loving these women through me. Who knew? Of course God would take this course of action. Of course He would reveal His unrelenting love to me. Why? First of all, because the very nature of my heart is just like the women who come into the center. And even though I am indeed a new creature in Christ, the fleshly nature in my heart has not been totally sanctified. God's love for me, the Christian who is working out her salvation and not yet sanctified is indeed unrelenting.
When I see things in my heart that aren't neat and pretty, it affords an opportunity to ask the question, "Wow, what's that all about? You are a Christian, why do you see that impatience, that anxiety, that apathy, or unbelief, etc. in your heart?" And then, you experience that unrelenting love of God for you in that condition! He does not give up or cave in or change His mind or lesson His affection because I am not yet fully sanctified. Rather, He reveals it all the more. Romans 5:8 says, "God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." And thus it is this way all through our Christian pilgrimage. Before we began our journey, He loves. At the beginning of our journey, He loves. In the middle of our journey He loves. And, at the very end of our journey, He loves. Like waves His love comes and washes over our soul. As waves, it intesifies as the journey continues. And we come to that place where we are able to comprehend the very breadth, length, height and depth of the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge and brings us to a place of the filling up to all the fulness of God! This is the prayer found in Ephesians chapter 3. This filling of unrelenting love experienced and known by one can have a powerful overflow to others. This is how we learn to love others. This is how I am learning to love the woman who comes to the center, who has multiple sleeping partners, who has had several abortions, who carries sexual disease, who doesn't work, who drinks and does drugs, and is extremely self-centered. This is how I love her. God's waves of unrelenting love crashing over my unsanctified soul never to become less intense because I am still a work in progress. And this is how I love my God. "I love Him, because He first loved me," I John 4:19.
The words of the following song are now my heart's own melody:
You won't relent until you have it all, My heart is Yours
You won't relent until you have it all, My heart is Yours
I'll set You as a seal upon my heart, as a seal upon my arm
For there is love as strong as death, jealousy demanding as the grave
And many waters cannot quench this love
Come be the fire inside of me, Come be the flame upon my heart
Come be the fire inside of me, until You and I are one
Then I will truly love like Jesus loved.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Two Words - Regret and Guilt
As I reviewed the new client's initial paperwork I saw she had already had four abortions. "This could be a tough one," I thought. Quietly in my mind I prayed, "Oh Lord, please help me show her the truth." She had two children and she was only 25 years of age. Then I read two words that gave me hope. "Regret." "Guilt." These were the feelings this client wrote down on the section that asked if any residual emotional effects ensued after an abortive procedure. There was hope and through the valley of Baca, this woman could find the blessing of grace and mercy through Jesus Christ. I headed into one of the counseling rooms with her determined to share the gospel of Jesus Christ.
We walked out of the counseling room 45 minutes later. I shared with her the options before her - to parent, to place for adoption, or to abort and add to her regret and guilt. I discussed the support she could receive through the services of our prolife center and the place of healing and peace that was possible. She listened. She had questions. She didn't know what to do. She was confused and scared. She cried. And I, well I was overcome by the love of God towards her. His compassion, His mercy, His grace seemed to fill my spirit and it poured out as I shared the gospel with her.
There is hope. She agreed to come back for an ultrasound. Her baby will be ten weeks. He will have a perfect little body with every part formed, just very tiny. I pray that he will put on the best audition for his life that he could ever display for his mom. Perhaps today God used me to save a baby. Perhaps today God used me to save a soul. "Regret." "Guilt." May they be replaced with "Forgiven" and "Saved."
We walked out of the counseling room 45 minutes later. I shared with her the options before her - to parent, to place for adoption, or to abort and add to her regret and guilt. I discussed the support she could receive through the services of our prolife center and the place of healing and peace that was possible. She listened. She had questions. She didn't know what to do. She was confused and scared. She cried. And I, well I was overcome by the love of God towards her. His compassion, His mercy, His grace seemed to fill my spirit and it poured out as I shared the gospel with her.
There is hope. She agreed to come back for an ultrasound. Her baby will be ten weeks. He will have a perfect little body with every part formed, just very tiny. I pray that he will put on the best audition for his life that he could ever display for his mom. Perhaps today God used me to save a baby. Perhaps today God used me to save a soul. "Regret." "Guilt." May they be replaced with "Forgiven" and "Saved."
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Audition for Adoption
A client came in this week and she was already 11 weeks pregnant. She was scared and nervous and came to the center with the father of the baby. She was in her early twenty's and worked as a cashier in a fast food restaurant. She said that the father of the baby was very mad at her for being pregnant. She wasn't exactly sure what she was going to do but she did say she didn't want to have another abortion. She had an abortion a few years earlier where she experienced excessive bleeding and ended up being hospitalized. She said it was very scary. She said she could never go through that again.
Though she seemed set on not pursuing an abortion, the angry father of the baby did present a potential problem to pressure his girlfriend to end the baby's life. She agreed to an ultrasound, but said she didn't want the father of the baby in the room. We were sensitive to her request but did suggest that if her boyfriend did see his baby on the ultrasound screen, he might have a change of heart. She still did not want him in the room.
As the client saw her baby, she seemed to become less scared and nervous. She began to ask some questions about adoption. As I performed the scan, I realized that this baby was given the chance to audition for the possibility of being placed for adoption.
Adoption is one of three options available to the woman with an uplanned pregnancy. While adoption is a very positive life-giving option and a great solution to a tough situation it is not so for women in crisis. For her, adoption is usually seen as the worst possible option. In fact, one study showed that adoption was seen as the most "evil" of the three options - parenting, abortion or adoption. After the scan was over and as we wrapped up our time with her, she took the adoption agency referral from us. While we like to set up meetings with the client considering adoption with the agency before she leaves our center, she preferred to make the call herself. As she left the center, we knew this client was going to need much prayer and follow up. You just never know what may be decided after clients leave the Pregancy Resource Center. One thing we do know after performing an ultrasound - this client saw her baby moving about in her womb with a heartbeat that was undeniably present. And she left the center not only with those memories, but with a couple of printed out pictures of her 11 week baby and a video tape of her baby auditioning for his life! This baby's chance at life was now increased. My hope is that she will show the baby's father these things and that those images of his own child would be used in a powerful way to soften his heart towards life!
Though she seemed set on not pursuing an abortion, the angry father of the baby did present a potential problem to pressure his girlfriend to end the baby's life. She agreed to an ultrasound, but said she didn't want the father of the baby in the room. We were sensitive to her request but did suggest that if her boyfriend did see his baby on the ultrasound screen, he might have a change of heart. She still did not want him in the room.
As the client saw her baby, she seemed to become less scared and nervous. She began to ask some questions about adoption. As I performed the scan, I realized that this baby was given the chance to audition for the possibility of being placed for adoption.
Adoption is one of three options available to the woman with an uplanned pregnancy. While adoption is a very positive life-giving option and a great solution to a tough situation it is not so for women in crisis. For her, adoption is usually seen as the worst possible option. In fact, one study showed that adoption was seen as the most "evil" of the three options - parenting, abortion or adoption. After the scan was over and as we wrapped up our time with her, she took the adoption agency referral from us. While we like to set up meetings with the client considering adoption with the agency before she leaves our center, she preferred to make the call herself. As she left the center, we knew this client was going to need much prayer and follow up. You just never know what may be decided after clients leave the Pregancy Resource Center. One thing we do know after performing an ultrasound - this client saw her baby moving about in her womb with a heartbeat that was undeniably present. And she left the center not only with those memories, but with a couple of printed out pictures of her 11 week baby and a video tape of her baby auditioning for his life! This baby's chance at life was now increased. My hope is that she will show the baby's father these things and that those images of his own child would be used in a powerful way to soften his heart towards life!
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