PREGNANT AT 13
One day, sitting across from a pregnant teen-age girl, I was hit with a flood of memories—reminders of a different time, a different life. Though I was now a Christian counselor, I could easily relate to her situation. Many years ago, I had also been pregnant at 13.
I told the girl about my hardships—the losses I’d suffered as a result of engaging in premarital sex and becoming a parent while I was still a child myself. She found it hard to believe that I had ever done anything out of God’s will. As her counselor, I continually taught and emphasized the ways of God for life.
But I hadn’t always put God first or looked to Him for help. For a few years, I sought to ease the pain through other means—drinking and smoking marijuana.
The young girl was amazed by the pictures of my children and grandchildren and listened intently as I shared the details of my past, including the testimony of how God had changed my life. I discussed many of my wrong choices and explained that it was because of God’s grace that I was able to complete high school, college and eventually graduate school while I reared my children as a single parent.
The ministry I have now is the fruit of a life that was once filled with hurt, pain and suffering. But a gracious God has healed me of so many issues—the loss of a normal childhood, low self-esteem, shame and depression—and put in my heart the desire to “comfort [others] with the comfort [I myself] have received from God” [2 Cor. 1:4, NIV].
His joy fills my heart when I think of the inheritance He has given me. The child I had when I was just 13 is steadily growing in the Lord, along with her husband, and is one of the best mothers I know. My precious grandchildren have been taught of the Lord from birth, and my son, born of a failed marriage, works and attends college and is coming into his own as a responsible, godly man.
God gave me rest for my soul. He imparted peace, wisdom and the ability to walk through troubles with confidence and hope.
The girl continued to listen as I explained God’s plan for her life. I believe she now has hope that just as God brought good out of the mistakes I made, He will bring good out of hers, also.