There is nothing quite like a captive audience (even if you have to bribe them to be there). Tonight I am so excited to speak for the second time at Birthchoice. For those of you unfamiliar with this nonprofit, they are a pro-life health clinic dedicated to helping and equipping young moms (and even a few single dads) with parenting and life skills, as well as preparing them to have healthy relationships.
When the young parents attend a class they earn points which can be used towards diapers and baby clothing. Therein lays the beauty of the scenario…a group of teens and young adults, all paying rapt attention. This is virtually unheard of in most realms.
One thing I learned from my last class is teen moms are just like all moms, but younger (profound, I know…). No matter what the topic, all they really want to know about is labor, pain and nursing. And this ultimately, is what all expectant mom’s want to know about because it’s the big scary unknown.
I could have spoken on car seat installations and the first question would have been, “How bad does nursing hurt.” (Then again, maybe they weren’t paying attention?)
Of course, being the great instructor I am, I was completely honest and told them it hurts like hell.
One smarty-pants girl retorted, “Only if you’re doing it wrong.” (La Leche clearly has a new advocate)
Honestly, I was a little scared the first night I showed up. I didn’t know what to expect when I walked in the room and encountered all these curious eyes staring at me.
I didn’t know my heart would pound so nervously before I spoke, or how much I would enjoy bantering and playfully razzing the group. I certainly didn’t anticipate my spirit swelling with a profound ache.
Their courage was tremendous and it hit me like a ton of bricks.
I wasn’t that brave at their age. I made mistakes.
I believe abortion is often (though not always) the quick fix and the easy way out. I know that’s a loaded statement and many will disagree. I also know there are situations where rape and incest are involved and that certainly changes the parameters.
But this group of kids, despite the circumstances, were willing to take a risk, even though it was by far, the more difficult (at least initially) of the two paths.
I imagine few will ever regret their decision, while another generation of young women and men will struggle with shame and remorse for making a different choice.
I am humbled by their bravery.
We all screw up eventually, but few will choose to make beauty from ashes.
And a baby just might be the most beautiful mistake ever made.
