For a long time now, the face of abortion was that of a poor, unmarried woman with multiple children who just could not afford another "mouth to feed." With the current state of programs available for single, pregnant women, a married, financially stable woman is really more at risk for abortion than the woman who qualifies for government programs.
The reasons women give for wanting an abortion have more to do with inconvenience than any other reason we hear:
"It's just not the right time; I'm trying to build my career."
"My husband and I agreed we never wanted any children."
"The baby is not my husband's."
"I can't face the people in my church."
"I'm going through a divorce right now; I can't get a divorce if I'm pregnant."
Sadly, the clinic hears these excuses on a regular basis. Rarely does someone want an abortion because they can't afford another child. The bottom line is the women we see don't want to be pregnant, and they don't want anyone else to know they ever were. As humans, we are naturally selfish beings, and we see that played out each day that a woman comes in asking about abortion.
Our challenge is not in talking the woman out of an abortion or into one of the options available for unplanned pregnancy; our challenge is to move the woman to the point where she will accept being pregnant for nine months and give birth to a baby. Our challenge is to have a woman accept that her well-mapped-out life might have to take a different direction for a while.
One such woman, Deb, had to face that scenario. Beautiful, well-dressed and with a great job, Deb seemed to have everything going for her. She had plans to further her schooling and advance her career in an upwardly mobile direction. There was just one small issue for her: Deb found herself with a positive pregnancy test. Unsure about her next step, Deb made a phone call to the clinic and set an appointment to go over her options.
Deb, nervous and confused, met with her advocate who walked her through the appointment process. During the Gospel presentation, Deb's heart opened up, and she asked the advocate if she would pray for her. Together, they took some moments to pray.
The ultrasound revealed a very early pregnancy; only a gestational sac could be seen. Deb was very quiet but smiled and accepted pictures of the tiny sac. At the closing of the appointment, abortion was still on the table. Deb agreed to come back the following week for her STD results and another look at the baby. A week can make a big difference.
A more confident and upbeat version of Deb walked through the clinic doors the following week. Deb had gathered the courage to reveal to several family members, and the father of the baby, that she was pregnant. She had also carefully considered all the information she received from her first appointment. This time the ultrasound showed a growing baby; however, a heartbeat was not yet detected at her second appointment. In one week's time, she had begun to put a plan in place to have the baby, even though she didn't know completely what that would look like. Deb arrived the following week for her third appointment, once more confirming her plan to carry the baby to term, and this time confirming the heartbeat of the baby during the ultrasound.
Through our follow-up process, we have learned that Deb is having a little girl. She has had a baby shower and is getting the room ready for her baby. While this wasn't the path she had planned for herself, Deb is thankful to have taken some time to research her options by making an appointment with us and as a result, she's thankful to have chosen life for this sweet baby girl. While it wasn't a part of her plan, we know it was a part of His!
Thank you to our many donors and supporters who make it possible for us to reach hundreds of women like Deb. We're so grateful for your partnership! If you are ready to financially support this mission, please don't wait another day. Babies and their families are counting on you now!
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