Ever since I found out I was pregnant with Micah, I’ve had a slight obsession with any pregnant woman or new mom on TV. No matter how different we may be, we are all the same, because we’re all facing one of the greatest challenges in life: becoming a mother.
It’s hard work, y’all. Being a mother is the most difficult thing I’ve ever done. I’m grateful and blessed to have a loving, supportive husband at my side. I cannot imagine doing this alone. It’s even harder to imagine doing it as a teenager.
MTV has a habit of producing documentaries that capture my attention. The second season of 16 and pregnant wrapped up last night, and I’m heartbroken for some of those girls. When I watch scenes like this, I’m overwhelmed by the responsibility that little girl is about to face.
That’s just one example of a season full of difficulties those girls are facing because of rash decisions and careless sex. Some of the girls have partners who support them, but others, like Chelsea have baby daddies who couldn’t care less about them or their child.
Chelsea’s episode left me in tears.
I hope these girls make it. I hope they can survive this difficult time in their lives and come out on the other side better people. I hope that the hardships they’re facing change them for the good.
Watching this series made me realize what a responsibility the church has to help pregnant teenagers. It happens all the time. Some of the girls in our youth groups are pregnant and scared right now. We can preach anti-abortion all we want, but the only real way to encourage those scared little girls to choose life is to offer them a safe place to raise their children. We Christians need to step up and stand in the gap for deadbeat dads and parents who don’t want to have anything to do with their knocked-up daughters.
The church has to be the kind of place that can restore people. We have to love people into choosing the right thing. We have to be willing to step into a messy situation and hold a little girl’s hand as she struggles through what is bound to be the most difficult time in her life.
I’m willing to step up. Are you??
Until next time, grace and peace.
