I’m working on another blog that encompasses my life
as a pregnant teen. I get way too
overwhelmed and emotional when I start working on it, so I can only do it a
little at a time. I talk about people that helped me along in my tough journey
and relive some harsh moments. Today I
used my story and my experiences in a positive way and “shared the love” with a
random girl I have never seen before.
I talked to a girl at the high school today that is
8 months pregnant. She’s not the only girl there that is going through the
experience. And this pregnancy isn’t usually
their first. Want to know what I said to
her? I asked her how she was feeling to which she replied, “miserable.” I said,
“I’m sorry, I know it’s tough going to high school and being pregnant-I’ve been
there. I’m Mrs. Overton and my room # is 304-come by and see me if you ever
need anything.” I also assured her that
everything is going to be ok and work out. She smiled and made small talk about
contractions, her other baby at home, and her future. I listened to her and didn’t judge her. Here is what I never got when I was pregnant at 16: assurance, sympathy, or
compassion. What I usually was received
with was judgment and crude remarks. No
matter the age at which a girl gets pregnant, people fail to see that it’s still a pregnancy. She is worrying
about the same things any mother would, but is overlooked because of her age. She is still carrying life inside of her and
is trying to figure out how to enter into motherhood while society judges
her. It is not socially acceptable to be
a pregnant teen; however, making her feel less because of a choice she made is
not the way to go. I had a teacher and
the school secretary show me kindness.
The secretary would send notes to the class I was in with bible verses
on it, or she would pull me out of class and give me food and a drink in the
office. I had a teacher who took me
under her wing to make sure I would graduate and graduate with honors. I had a
counselor who set me up with a support group-with an awesome leader and other
girls who taught me how to get through.
However, I never had someone show me compassion and tell me that even
though this happened before it “should have” that everything was going to work
out and that this beautiful baby growing inside of me would grow up to be great
and do great things regardless of the mistakes his parents made. I felt at times that the pain I was enduring
was something I deserved since I had hurt others with getting pregnant outside
of marriage. I didn’t ask for assurance,
sympathy, or compassion but looking back I know I needed it and I didn’t get it
from school and I certainly didn’t get it from my church. I did have some supportive people at church
and one lady in particular I owe a lot to, but for the most part the church
failed me. This morning when I was
listening to “Focus on the Family” on my way to work there was a lady talking
about how when you feel distant from God that He sends people to you to be His
light. Even when you are at your lowest,
He still has and wants a relationship with you and so he sends other people to
be there for Him in a way. Those people
become a blessing to you in your life. I
think we’ve all been there when we felt like someone was put in our life at
that time to be our “Christ” and let Him shine through them. I also think that we expect it
sometimes-expect others to be there for us when we feel like God isn’t. Today, after hearing that, I really thought
about if I am the light for others and if they feel Him through me. I hope I am a blessing to them and I hope I
was a blessing to that girl today. Often
times Christians don’t say hurtful things to people so they think they aren’t
as bad as the other person; but sometimes not saying anything-not saying
positive words or speaking truth into people’s lives- sometimes that is just as
bad as not saying anything. The sin of silence will get ya, and we are all
guilty of it. So, not that you have to
be extravagant in your words or actions, but just be the light, y’all.
More to come.
