"Anonymous said...
Thanks. You reminded me that my yearly contribution to Planned Parenthood is overdue."
My response is this:
Anonymous-
Yes they do actually provide free prenatal vitamins. I have been given them personally.
As for the free labor and delivery hospitalization they give the resources to people who have no money or good enough insurance for labor and delivery as well as prenatal care. You can then go through these FREE resources (as my husband and I did) and choose the ones that are best for you. God has so provided for us in this way through them helping us even know where to go.
One of the biggest things the center offers is emotional support through counseling and then also they do what ever they can to help those who do not have a good living situation. I know a lady personally that they helped get into some apartments at a church when she was 6 months pregnant and had no place to go. The director herself came to help her get settled and make sure everything was taken care of financially.
Not only is there also counseling for rape and incest victims but they also offer amazing adoption support groups and resources so that if the mother chooses to she can give her baby to a couple/family who desperately wants a child. I also know a mother who used that service and is very at peace with her situation and her child is in a wonderful home.
Food, shelter and clothing for the baby and mom-they have so many resources and will work tirelessly to make sure that you and your child are ok. I already mentioned the shelter. As for food and clothing they again help you get plugged in to amazing resources as well as have a 12 week parenting class where you earn baby bucks and use those for diapers, clothes, baby necessities, and at the end receive a FREE brand new pack and play.
As for early childhood interventions there are many resources available for that as well. I am involved in a program where I can earn points and can redeem them for things like clothes and diapers and wipes and any baby need you would have until my child is over two years old!
Many girls are told that abortion is their "only" option. That they could never handle a baby. That it would wreck their lives etc...the pregnancy center also offers post abortion counseling for girls that felt they had no other choice, did not know about these amazing resources, had the abortion and are now dealing with horrible regret and guilt that plagues them for YEARS. They help them see that there is healing and redemption in Jesus Christ! That their sins can be washed away. That He will forgive them and take their guilt.
If anything adoption is always an option. And there are so many FREE resources for girls if they choose life and choose to keep their babies.
Yes, I say babies. Because that is what they are. I saw my son at 9 weeks. He was wiggling all over and his heart was beating. At five weeks his heart STARTED to beat. At six weeks blood began to course through his body. At 7 weeks hands and feet had emerged and his liver was churning out red blood cells (until the marrow formed and could take over). I could go week by week until right now and it would show from the beginning what an amazing miracle is taking place in a BABY. (Source: babycenter.com)
I do not judge these girls at all that have abortions. I pity them because most of them are given no other option. One nurse I know of (from a friend who was there) TURNED THE ULTRASOUND SCREEN AWAY so an 18 year old girl could not see her 11 week old twins MOVING and see their hearts beating. Why? Because they were giving her abortion as her ONLY option.
Another AMAZING resource the pregnancy center gives one FREE is an ultrasound. Last year 64 women came in sure that abortion was their only hope. The ladies at the center listened to them, counciled them, and then said , "Why don't we put you on the ultrasound machine just to make sure that you are indeed pregnant." When they did and these women saw their baby THEIR child moving and their heart beating and SAW that they are in fact a beautiful little person ALL 64 of them CHOSE LIFE and kept their little ones.
Am I saying that it will be easy? No it is not always easy BUT I do know that there are so many people out there who love God and love unborn babies and will do WHATEVER they can to help and support and encourage.
My husband and I have been amazed at how the Lord has provided for us! He is faithful!
There are other choices out there.
Abortion never has to be the only option.
That is my response.
Many of you have seen my recent posts about the Walk for Life. This is the reason I do it. Jason and I have personally been so blessed with help of even knowing where to go and what to do next. When I first walked into those doors I had no idea where to really start. We were so overwhelmed by love and people that cared so much for us and our baby it just instantly put me to ease.
Here is another challenge though for all of us that my amazing friend Missie from over at Hidden Valley Simplicity commented on that same post:
"Last year I pleaded with a young woman to not abort her baby. She ended up NOT doing so and fell in love at her first ultrasound. Now, her and the baby are like family to us. One of my big things is, if we are going to cry out against abortion, we must---MUST---then help the women raise their babies after they are born!!! It's one thing to save a life. It's another to get involved in that life. It takes time and sacrifice but it's not enough to just prevent abortion. . . we have to do all we can to help that Mama give her child the best life possible, esp when circumstances are not giving Mama any support (financially, emotionally, etc). Are we willing to be there when the baby won't stop screaming at 2:00 a.m.??? Will we let the Mama and her baby be in our home frequently, just hanging out when we love our solitude and privacy, because she needs someone to be there for her? Will we buy things for them when the job the Mama has isn't quite enough for rent, clothes, formula, and diapers?"
What an amazing story but also what weighty questions that I had to ask myself! Are we willing to not just sit in church shouting out amens and hallelujahs when someone stands up and speaks out against abortion. Are we willing to actually walk the walk and do the hard things? To get out of our comfort zones. To serve and to love and to give as Jesus did?
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According to the website this picture is found on-this is a 12 week old baby. "The baby has all of the parts necessary to experience pain, including nerves, spinal cord, and thalamus. Vocal cords are complete. The baby can suck its thumb. "
Is this little ones life worth it to us? Not only in the womb but like Missie, challenged us, outside the womb as well?
What can we do as women of God? How can we make a difference? For each of us it will be different but one thing we can all do is pray. Pray for these little lives. Pray for their Mama's. Pray to be the hands and feet to make a difference, even if it isn't in a glamorous way. Look around and see who are around us. Do you know a young single Mom? What are ways that you can help her and encourage her? Do you know a young pregnant girl? How can you encourage her and support her? Sometimes we all just need a true friend.
These involve doing.
Going.
Stepping out of that comfort zone.
Are we willing to stop just talking about it and start doing hard things for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?
These lives are all so precious to Jesus-both the babies and Mama's. Do we tell them that? Do we show them that?
Or do we judge?
Proverbs 31:8-9 says this:
"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.
Speak up and judge fairly;
defend the rights of the poor and needy."
These little ones can not speak for themselves and a lot of these Mama's are destitute, poor and needy.
How can we make a difference for Jesus Christ in these girls lives today?
