“You Are Not Alone, Romans 8:28-31”
I know I may not be of your typical age range for your target audience. Despite that I thought I would tell my story in hopes of inspiring and motivating young ladies (and gents).
In this world we see so many examples of things like sex and teen relationships being glorified via TV etc. I am one who watches Teen Mom OG on a regular basis not because its good but because I feel bad for one of the moms in particular because I can totally relate to her. I see myself (at a younger time) in her. Every time I watch her and her hubby my heart breaks for them and what all they have gone through so fast and at such a young age.
In one episode this young lady was crying and talking about the daughter they had placed for adoption and how since she has been dealing with postpartum depression. I must admit I have cried many times with her when she shows her broken heart on national tv like that. But it also makes me want to reach out to her and other young ladies that are going through teen pregnancy and the major decision to keep or place an unborn child.
When I was younger I had a rough life that started out in a single parent family and never really saw my dad. Then later when I was a teenager I had to step up and start caring for the house and my younger brother because my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. After she had recovered the problems for us didn’t stop there, my brother got into trouble with the cops by stealing cars, etc.
After I graduated high school I had my own set of trouble where I started hanging out with who I thought was my best friends. We did a lot of regrettable things and hung out with all the wrong boys (bad boy types). We partied a lot and one night I almost died, I was left by all of my so-called friends and woke up to find out that a guy I knew had raped me. I woke up to my own puke and blood on the ground and my clothes torn. When I finally was able to locate some of the girls that I had been hanging out with I was threatened that if I ever told I would regret it. To be honest I was in shock of what all had happened and how I was betrayed. Later, I found out that I was pregnant at the age of 19.
Since I grew up in a pro-life household and going to church it had been hard pressed into me that abortion was not an option. So, I decided while sitting in my car on the side of the road (by myself) that I would carry the baby to term and not hold shame for it. I knew that I wasn’t ready to care for a baby, so I set out to find an agency to help with the painful process of finding adoptive parents. It was the hardest thing to this day I have ever done. It broke me for a long time and even now I find myself with scars from that time. (it was an open adoption that after years closed due to adoptive parents being unwilling to follow through)
In the before mentioned teen moms story I found it sad she didn’t seem to have many around her that truly understood what she as a woman was going through with the sadness of placing a child. I wanted to write this to her and many other teen moms and let you know it does get easier. I want you to know that no matter if you place or keep your baby at such a young age you are not alone. There are many women that have came before you and have made it through what you are going through now. You are stronger than you will ever know. Trust your gut and heart in this decision. Trust in God most of all, he is here for you too no matter what many may have said to you. It is not wrong to keep or to place do what you feel is right, from this point on you have a life to consider before your own… BUT YOU ARE NOT ALONE!
Written By: Summer Barrios
