We often complain about our work; yet in all labor there is profit. That's what the Good Book says anyway. In all labor. Say, could that include labor--as in labor and delivery? Is there profit in that kind of labor?
Think about it. What could be more profitable than delivering a new life? A new life that, with tender nurturing, could grow up to become a lover of what is right and good . . . a poet, pastor, possibly a doctor, or President of the United States?
It seems in recent years many have considered children a liability rather than an asset and a blessing. On the other hand, ask women who are not able to conceive and most will tell you they'd give anything to have a child. Adoption agencies maintain long lists of people waiting for a baby they can call their own.
Which begs the question: with all those people wanting children, why is abortion even an issue? As a pregnancy care center staff person, I spoke with hundreds of women who had unplanned pregnancies. Though no one wanted to abort, many considered it their only option: they were scared and looking for the quickest way out of their dilemma.
Considering it is no longer the shameful situation it used to be to have a child "out of wedlock," I have two questions for you:
- How can we encourage a woman who has an unwanted pregnancy to carry her baby to term, and
- How can we help her whether she decides to keep her baby or relinquish it for adoption?
It is frightening to be in the position of young, pregnant, unmarried, without resources. As someone who has been in that situation, to have a listening ear that is able -without emotion or judgement- to help boil down feelings, options and resources, would be immeasurable. Getting her to see past the immediate to see that there have been women that have been in that situation, how they handled options and the hope that they made it through.
ReplyDeleteSoftly challenging her beliefs that are no longer applicable("he said he loved me..." , reinforcing that the decisions are hers and offering tangible support as in baby clothes, blankets, etc. give a way to hold on. It is a very lonely, scarey time, she may or may not have support from her boyfriend/family or friends or may be given opposing opinions. So much information , along with many questions swirl through a girl's head and there is a time issue involved as well.
Thank you, Karin, for sharing your story and wisdom. You would make an excellent peer-counselor at any of the 3,000+ crisis pregnancy centers/pregnancy resource centers scattered throughout the United States.
ReplyDeleteThese centers represent the best response, in my opinion, to the issue of unplanned pregnancy. If we want to help the baby, we must help the baby's mother. We can love them both!!!