One Day to Give

Today I am participating in One Day To Give with Kristen at We are THAT Family. Please go to her website today and read the many stories of how others have chosen to give of themselves. What a great thing to be a part of!

Kristen asked everybody to 1) do something for somebody that would require you to give of yourself and 2) post about it so that we can encourage others to give as well. Here is how I got involved.

If you have followed this blog for a while, you know that I became a mom for the first time when I was 17. It wasn't my plan, but it was my life.

From the very beginning, I turned everything about this situation over to the Lord. When I did, He was able to then do things His way. His ways are always better than mine.

One of the days that stands out to me the most during that time period was when I decided to tell the drill team that I was pregnant and I would have to be removed. I wanted to tell them myself rather than let them hear it from someone else.

I will never forget that day. I was scared and worried and freaking out by the time drill team rolled around last period, but I refused to turn back. I felt like it had to be taken care of this way.

One of the most amazing things that God did was through a friend of mine named Brandi. She probably has no idea how her friendship blessed me that day.

When I walked to the front of the gym and our instructors called everyone in close, Brandi came up to me and said, "I know what you're about to do. Would you like me to sit with you while you talk to them?" She put her arm around me and smiled at me as I talked.

Y'all, I still get teary-eyed telling that story. It was one of the best gifts I have ever received.
When I got home from school that afternoon, someone from my church came to my house with a dozen rozes. The card said that our church body loved me and wanted me to know that. That meant so much, too.

Later that afternoon, one of my drill team leaders came to my house. She came to encourage me as well, and she gave me a card with some money to go and buy something for my unborn child.

It wasn't that she was supporting what I had done. But she was telling me it was ok to celebrate this life inside of me. She was acknowledging my daughter, and I needed that. I needed the love she was offering.

A few weeks ago, I found out a young friend of mine was pregnant. She is 17, just like I was. She was scared and confused and had a lot of questions. Just like I did.

I had an opportunity to meet with her. To love her. To listen to her, and I was able to give her a card with some money. To acknowledge that precious baby that she is carrying. To tell her it's ok to smile about the life that is inside of her.

Not to encourage the choice she made, but to love the girl who made the choice.

It was an honor to me to love her and to spend time with her, and I am so very thankful for the opportunity to do so.

Originally posted October 2008 @ Mom in Transition