When a positive pregnancy test turns a woman's world upside down, thoughts from all directions flood the mind. Not a lot of women will come straight out and tell us that they DO believe in God. But, for those who volunteer that information, they usually do truly have a relationship with God. This patient was a little older than the norm, did believe in God, and was truly devastated about this pregnancy.

                               

Part of her devastation stemmed from a prior abortion that she has never been able to get over. The other part stemmed from the father of the baby who showed his true colors with the mention of the word “pregnant”.  Our patient was looking at some hard choices. She opted for an ultrasound offered to her by Healthy Beginnings as a first step in acceptance of her pregnancy. With the ultrasound, she could determine viability- she could see for herself if the pregnancy was “good” or if she would be one of the many who miscarry.

                        

She came to her ultrasound appointment with a good friend. They watched together as the scan began. Focusing in on a nearly 7 week pre-born baby, they watched intently. With the sound of the Doppler as we listened to the heartbeat, I saw the patient’s face go from deep concern to amazement, and then back to concern. When the scan was over, I asked her what she was thinking now about the pregnancy. She replied, “I guess I am going to carry.”

                               

While these were the words I wanted to hear, the conviction that I needed to hear was not there. It was like she knew she could not abort, but was resolving that life would just be miserable from this point on. Because she had admitted to a definite relationship with the Lord, I shared a story with her of another young women who, by ANYONE’S measure, had been in a huge mess less than 2 years ago. A victim of rape and also a Christian, she took one day at a time, woke up, went through her day in a manner that would honor God, went to sleep, and then started over the next day.  A year later she sent me a picture of a beautiful smiling little girl with the  most rubiest red lips you have ever seen. She honored God in her daily choices; He honored her by coming alongside her and working things out. 

                      

The patient saw the correlation. Even though she couldn’t imagine how things could work out, she saw that if she entrusted her life (and this pregnancy) to God, He could take care of things… after all, scripture tells us, “with God all things are possible.”  She needn’t worry HOW, she just needed to trust Him and take care of herself.

 

When we finished the patient left with new resolve. The “I guess” fell off the front of her “I am going to carry" statement. You could see it and feel it. She and her baby were going to be just fine…

Praise God!