Life is full of choices, and at some point in our lives, most of us have thought about what our lives would look like if we had made different choices.
In the world of unplanned pregnancies, we work with women every day who are faced with the difficult decision of whether to choose life for their unborn child. The decisions they make about their pregnancy will have a lasting impact not only on them but also on future generations. In such a situation, we look to God for guidance and strength to help empower the woman to choose life.
When a woman wants to set up an appointment at the Hope House Women’s Clinic, she starts by making a phone call. This is the first decision she needs to make. We are always happy to hear from these women because we know that they will not only get accurate medical information, but we can also start praying for them.
The second decision point is when the woman arrives for her appointment. Unfortunately, several factors may discourage her from showing up for her first appointment with us. For instance, her partner or family members might pressure her into just “getting rid of the problem.” Additionally, she may feel fearful, embarrassed, or unsure about taking the next step. Although our nurses will do all they can to allay her fears, we rely on the power of prayer the most to help her through this challenging time.
After being fully informed about the development of her unborn child and the available options, the expectant mother is faced with another decision to make. Sometimes, just having the knowledge and support can help her feel empowered to choose life, but at other times, the decision may remain uncertain. In such cases, our team continues to provide support, pray for her, and may even seek assistance from our prayer supporters to help her.
After discussing the options with the client, she is faced with another decision. Does she want to see her child on an ultrasound? An ultrasound can show the baby moving and the heart beating, which can change the client’s mind about the pregnancy. In fact, about 80% of the time, seeing an ultrasound leads to the client choosing to keep the baby. Seeing the development of the baby on an ultrasound often replaces any previous doubts with a desire to become a mother to the child.
It’s important to acknowledge that not every woman has a positive emotional reaction to being pregnant, and sometimes fear and anxiety can override her appreciation for the humanity and innocence of the baby she carries. It’s truly heartbreaking when a mother leaves our clinic knowing that she has made the difficult decision to terminate her pregnancy and end the life of her unborn child.
Despite the circumstances, we continue to pray, knowing that it’s never too late and God can still work a miracle.
Such a miracle took place just a couple of months ago. During a visit to our office, a young mother and her mother came to view her baby’s ultrasound. While they were here, we sent out an urgent prayer request for her and had many people praying for her from all over town. However, the mother of the young woman was pressuring her to terminate the pregnancy. They had an appointment in Jacksonville, but despite our efforts to stay in touch with them and pray for them, they stopped responding to us.
But God…
We found out last week that they chose to keep the baby! After considering everything, they decided NOT to go through with the abortion. The mother expressed feeling that it was God’s will for them to keep the baby. We have now enrolled them in the Parenting Center and are excited to support this family on their parenting journey.
It’s never too late. Thank you all for your support and prayers for these families.