Not all of us come from strong homes, but it doesn't mean we can't build a strong home for our kids. No matter who you are or where you are at in life, you have the choice to be a better parent. When I got pregnant my dad asked me how I would raise this little boy. I was still in high school with no money for college and it didn't look like I had a future with his dad. What was I going to do? My response is one that I held with me for the last 18 years. I have love and sometimes that just has to be enough! He laughed. I cried inside. He was right. I didn't have much to offer, but I can stand here and tell you now that in the end, it was love that conquered everything else. My son and I have lived in poverty and we have lived a comfortable life. Love existed in both instances. My love, patience, encouraging words, hugs, kisses, bedtime stories, homemade cards, smiles and thumbs up from across a sports field were always free. Sometimes hard, but always free. There were times I didn't know how I would put food on the table, but I always tried to make him feel loved. No matter what your upbringing, not matter what your situation, today choose love!
I Corinthians 13:8 - LOVE NEVER FAILS!
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Friday, May 18, 2012
You: On Purpose
Welcome to my blog. I am glad you found your way. Please be sure to subscribe to this blog by clicking the Subscribe button on the right hand side of your screen. The purpose of this blog is to encourage teenage moms, young moms, single moms and their mentors. My purpose is to show you God's love. To encourage you and to motivate you to become all that you have been chosen to be. To encourage you to take this road day by day allowing God's love to show you your way. Every reader will be at a different place in their life, but each of us are fulfilling the same purpose. Our actions, right or wrong, have lead us to motherhood and I believe it is a job that you have been chosen for. The hardest job we will ever be given and yet God chose you for it. One with a lot of responsibility yet many, many rewards, heartaches and judgements. Many of you have found this page in search of answers, my goal is to help provide those answers. Many of you are in search of new friends, people who can relate or just people who can encourage you through your toughest days. When I was 17 and found out I was pregnant, I was scared. I didn't know what to do and I didn't have many people to turn to, especially for encouragement. Those who loved me most were scared, disappointed and didn't know how to react. Those who loved me were the ones who judged me the most. Only one person told me congratulations, the woman at the health clinic, but even her face was saddened by the news. 18 years later, my son is a strong, healthy, amazing young man who was placed in this world on purpose. A purpose that God chose me to help him fulfill. This side of heaven I will never understand what this really means, but I know that when the world was ready to call me a statistic and give up on me, a miracle happened. When I didn't have an education or a clue, doors were opened. When I was broke and didn't know where I would get money to put food on the table, God provided. I had to take action, I had to believe in myself when no one else believed in me, but doors were opened. I took life day by day, moment by moment and I encourage you to do the same. If you just found out you are pregnant, my response is Congratulations! Even if you know you can't parent this child, I tell you Congratulations! You have been selected by God to fulfill a purpose bigger than you. As I type this blog I think of a sweet couple who I love dearly. They did everything right or at least right according to societies definitions. They went to college, got an education, got good jobs, fell in love, got married, bought a nice house and today, they pray that you, the one God chose for them, will make the decision to help them love and care for your baby because their dreams of infertility have been shattered. They are praying for you. Not your pain in giving up your baby, but they are praying that you will see that God took something that the world sees as bad and He will use it as a blessing. They are praying that you know they love you and they are praying that you will find the courage to be brave. The decision you are faced with is the most selfless decision you can make, yet it is a gift that you can give to someone. They are praying that someone, somewhere will see her baby as a blessing and use the choice of adoption to bless someone else. Their only hope is that a young, teenage mom somewhere makes the decision to keep her baby so that they can fulfill their dream of parenting. They are prepared to love, nurture and spoil that sweet, sweet blessing. Maybe this blog finds you somewhere else. Maybe you chose abortion long ago or maybe you are making the choice right now. Consider a bigger purpose. We can not control what we do not know. I want to apologize now that the right person didn't or hasn't found you in time. God used an Angel with me and my prayer right now is that he sends you an Angel too! I also want to tell you that even when you said no to motherhood, God said yes! I have experienced a Medically needed abortion, for many years I thought it was different than woman who chose it, but it wasn't. It took me years to forgive myself. For not trusting God with my body and my baby. Through a retreat I highly recommend called Rachel's Vineyard me and many of my friends found healing. A healing that was long overdue, but one that allowed us to move forward and know that even in our hard decisions, God loves us, unconditionally. If you are considering abortion, find someone to talk to. I would recommend you find someone who was a teen mom. If you can't find anyone you know and trust, e-mail me. I will talk to you. Know that I will only help you think of every option. While I know the pain abortion brings, I do not judge others. I treat others how I want to be treated and I don't want anyone judging me. I am not perfect and I accept that you aren't either. I will love you no matter your choice. Maybe you're a mom of a teenager who has just found out they are expecting. I am praying for you. I know that in this outcome some of your own hopes and dreams have been shattered. Know that this isn't about you. That's hard right? I am sorry, but I believe that to be true. Know that your role in this journey is to love and encourage your child. If this is you, please send me an e-mail so that I can gather mom's around to pray for you. My encouragement is to maintain tough love and know that not every situation is like what you see on TV. Your role is tough and I hope you will also find encouragement here. Mentors, I love you! What a blessing it is to mentor these families. My prayer is that you pray often, that you allow the Holy Spirit to be the only one talking and that you will be reminded daily that you were not called to judge others, but to love others. To love them most when they are found in their pain and sin. You have a tough job, but I pray that God will lead you! Whoever you are, wherever you are, welcome. Remember to subscribe to this blog and to like our Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/TeenageMomPurpose
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