The Other Talk Part Two

This is a continuation of yesterday's post.  If you missed it, you can view it here.  

Very shortly after, she and her boyfriend (who was old enough to be jailed for dating her) went to the local Planned Parenthood Clinic. I had on several occasions prior to this encouraged Angela not to go through with an abortion, but her mind was made up and it didn't seem like there was anything to do, in order to change it.  She was taken into the procedure room, and she later confided in me that she had a change of heart.  She began to kick and scream, and even hit the nurse.  She told them she changed her mind. and "NOT to take HER Baby!" they however sedated her, and did the procedure anyway.  She now lives with remorse that few others can understand.

As a 14 year old I thought I did everything I could.  It wasn't until a few months later when my parents had "The Other Talk" with my sister and I that I realized how foolish I had been.   Another girl, this one about to graduate from High School and a member of my church youth group, found herself in the same situation. The difference was that the first adult to help this young mother was a  Christian, who encouraged her above everything, to not kill her child.  My parents knew about this incident and sat my sister and I down and told us, that if we ever had a friend who was in this same situation, that they could help.  We could bring our friend home and they would do all they could to help.  How foolish I was not to take the burden of my 14 year old scared friend to my parents.  If I had, the situation may have turned out so differently, and there might be a precious 12 year old child here today adopted to a deserving family because of it. 

We cannot forget our children are just that, children.  Proverbs 22:15 says "Foolishness is bound in the heart of a Child."  I was foolish, I was only 14.  It never occurred to me to betray my friend's trust and go to my parents for help.  I didn't get it then, I thought I was doing all I could.  I'm not sure what would have happened if my parent's would have had "The Other Talk" any sooner, I'm sure they didn't imagine at 14 I'd know anyone who was pregnant let alone another 14 year old. Even if I would have taken her home to my parents for help, things may have turned out the same way, but I honestly doubt it.

For the remainder of the school year Angela wore a cloud everywhere she went.  She talked about how she was relieved and grieving all in the same breath.  I tried to comfort her the best I could, even now I still should have gone to my parents.  At the end of the year I gave her a Gideon's Bible and told her, to never throw it out even if she didn't believe in God.  I told her to read to read it when she felt troubled.  After our Freshman year in High School we no longer had any classes together and Angela seemed to avoid me.  I think I reminded her of a year she wanted to forget, I was one of the few with whom she shared her secret.  Right before we were both to graduate she stopped me in the halls of school one day and said, "Do you remember the Bible you gave me our Freshman year?" I nodded, " I still read it sometimes."  That was it, our last real conversation.  I pray she's found Christ's forgiveness, because only then can she forgive herself.

Even if you home school, even if your children are in a Christian school, tell them that you would not only be willing to help them if they get into trouble, but any of their friends as well.  A young girl, or woman, who find herself pregnant out of wedlock (or young man whose girlfriend is in the same situation) finds herself scared and hearing so many voices telling her an abortion is the quick and simple solution.  The world says an abortion will make the problem go away.  When in reality not only does a child die, but the guilt from having an abortion is literally haunting and Christ's forgiveness is the only solution. 

It's hard not to blame myself for not getting this young girl real help, in the end I know it was her choice, and I know God has forgiven me for my role in this; but I truly hope this story can prevent the same type of tragedy from happening to our children's friends and acquaintances.

Bio:

Kasey is a wife to a future Pastor, and a mother to two fantastic children.  Her priority is raising her little ones and being the best wife possible but she is also the music leader at her church and teaches several  hours a week at a local Bible College. She writes at www.lessonsfromivy.com where she shares encouragement and the lessons God teaches her from her day to day life.