As a 16-year-old sophomore in high school, the last thing Hope wanted to do was tell her parents she was pregnant.
Not to mention – her dad was a youth pastor and she knew her decision to have premarital sex would not be tolerated in their home.
So after hiding her pregnancy for months, she finally broke down and told her parents – and you won’t believe how they responded.
While Hope admits her parents were disappointed in her life choices, they demonstrated much grace and support.
In fact, Hope credits the love of her mom for helping her get through her pregnancy.
Live Action News reported:
“My biggest support was my mom,” she told Live Action News. “As soon as she found out, she said, ‘We’re going to get through this,’ and she showed that constantly while I was pregnant.
After I had Ren, my parents were always willing to watch my son.”
Because of the love and support of her parents, Hope was able to finish her high school years with honors and even enroll in college.
If her parents had heaped shame upon her or condemned her for her actions, Hope’s story could have had a very different ending.
Being a single mom is tough – especially if you are a young teenager with your entire life ahead of you.
Many pregnant teens feel scared and alone – so instead of choosing life, they choose abortion, simply because they see no other way out.
And even though Hope admits that, at the time, she didn’t understand why God allowed her pregnancy to happen, she sees His redemption and protection in her life.
And now, she points out the importance of those who claim to be “pro-life” actually standing by their beliefs and supporting teens who decide to carry their babies to term.
Live Action continued:
“People always preach ‘Support life. Life’s important’ in regards to giving life and choosing to have your baby, but they don’t always remember to treat those girls as if they are proud of them for having their baby and acknowledging that they are doing something that others choose not to do.”
Amen.
As Christians, we should be welcoming pregnant teens with open arms and walking alongside them through their journey.
While Hope had a loving home and the support of both her parents, not every pregnant teen has the same support.
So what can you do to support pregnant teens?
Consider volunteering your time at a local pregnancy center or financially contributing to other pro-life organizations that are out there in the trenches walking alongside pregnant teens.
And if you know of a pregnant teen in your life – whether a niece, neighbor, or even your own daughter – while your natural reaction may be anger at their choices, it’s important for them to know you will be by their side and support them.
Many teens who have had abortions admit that if only someone would have shown them grace, they would have chosen life for their baby.
So instead of shunning those who make mistakes – let’s show them the same grace God has shown us.
Because remember – we serve a God who loved us in our darkest of moments.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” – John 3:16-17
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