She is the salt to my pepper...the butter to my bread...the chocolate to my popcorn (seriously...you've never tried that??). In God's providence, I found Teri Lynne Underwood through twitter and latched on to her when I realized that she volunteered in a local pregnancy care ministry and was crazy about college football. The rest is history. Or as Sarah put it yesterday...His-story.
She blogs oh-so-fabuloso at Pleasing to You!
For a complete listing of all of this week's Sanctity of Human Life posts visit The Whole Truth.
I feel as though I've known her my whole life...she's a "don't know in real life best friend forever" and I couldn't be more thankful for her friendship and encouragement.
A pastor's wife, avid lover of books, constant drinker of strong coffee (with lots of sugar and creamer), and a passionate follower of Christ. Helping others learn to blend the sacred with the secular in daily life is her goal in writing ... from sharing how she studies and prays to helping others laugh as they learn to see the spiritual in moldy shower curtain liners, Teri Lynne "just wants others to find the great joy and peace I have found in Jesus Christ."
She has a story to tell. An insider's view of what takes place in a local pregnancy care ministry where she serves as a peer counselor.
I can't wait to share her heart with you. Please take good care of it friends.
In her own words...
She came in the center - confident, well dressed. Her appointment was for a pregnancy test and written beside the other information were two letters ... AM. Which means, at our crisis pregnancy center, abortion minded.
She had called the center that morning and asked about abortion procedures. Our receptionist explained that we do not perform abortions nor do we recommend places she could get one but we'd be happy to meet with her and give her information about all the choices available. She agreed to come in and now I was going to have the honor of talking to her.
I breathed a prayer for wisdom and compassion. "Jane?* Hi, I'm Teri Lynne and I'd like to talk with you for a few minutes. Won't you follow me?"
She grabbed her purse and book, then smiled as she followed me into one of our counseling rooms. I ask the same question I always ask, "So, why are you here today?"
She smiled, laughed a little, and replied, "Well, I guess I'm here to get a free pregnancy test so I can figure out my next step. I'd like to know what types of procedures are available at this point."
I asked my next question, "Why do you think you are pregnant?"
She had taken several home pregnancy tests and proceeded to explain that she was taking college classes and had only one year left before she got her degree. Her children, her job, and school were all she could handle.
I listened as she explained that she'd had both of her children when she was very young - under 18 - and that it had taken her 10 years to get back to the point of getting her college degree. She stopped speaking abruptly and asked me, "Do you understand why I feel this way?"
I've never had an abortion. I don't know what that painful choice entails personally. But I have felt trapped ... I have felt like I had no choice. I have felt alone and confused.
And I have been scared.
I leaned over to her and said, "Yes, I do. I've been in situations where I felt I had no good choices."
"What did you do?"
(OPEN DOOR!!! Thank you, Lord!!) "I gathered information. Isn't that why you are here today?"
Agreeing that we make the best decisions when we have good information in front of us, I took her back so the nurse could do her pregnancy test. A few minutes later, our nurse knocked on the counseling room door and shared that Jane was, indeed, pregnant ... 8 weeks. The nurse said she'd be glad to do an ultrasound if Jane would like and then closed the door.
"Well, I guess it's true." She said ... almost as if she'd really expected that it wasn't.
"Yes, it's true. You are pregnant. And you have several big decisions you'll need to make. How do you feel about that?" I asked.
She sat there, tears streaming down her face. Her sobs filled the room and my heart ached for this woman who just 20 minutes before had been so "put together" ... I gently handed her a tissue and placed my hand over hers.
For a few minutes, neither of us spoke. And then she looked at me and said, "I can't do this."
"Do what?"
"Have another baby. I can't."
Gently and with as much compassion as I have ever felt, I opened the booklet that explained the different abortion procedures. It's not filled with graphic pictures or scary language ... it just explains each procedure, at what point in pregnancy it can be done, and what the risks and complications are.
And, as we moved through the book, I shared with her the other two choices she had ... parenting and adoption. I shared the risks and complications of each of those too. I reminded her the nurse said she could have an ultrasound and she said she would like to do that.
Jane's story is like so many others ... it isn't that she's a bad person or reckless and uncaring. She's a good mom and employee. So often we THINK we know who has abortions, we think we know the "type." But, sadly, there is no "type" ... sure there are demographics who are more likely ... but "she" looks just like me ... and you.
What happened that day ... and every other day in our center and in places just like it all across the country was simple ... I listened and I cared. I didn't take responsibility for her choices - before or after she left our center. I realized that truth is strong and powerful ... and doesn't need me to defend it, only to share it. I volunteer at the crisis pregnancy center because I believe in the power of information ... and I believe when women are given the truth, they are indeed set free.
Oh, and as for Jane, well, she's now the parent of three ... school is on hold but she'll go back. She comes in the center ... confident, well dressed, and smiling.
* not her real name
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Today I have a very special treat for those of you following this week in "Whiter than Snow."
Can you answer this question?
How has this series opened your eyes to the issue of abortion and those hurting from an abortion in their past?
Your answer enters you to win something very special from Christine Smith of Life Verse Jewelry (on Twitter as @LifeVerse...she's the one who does the amazing Scripture blasts...follow her tweeps!)
"Our Remembrance Bracelet is a memorial bracelet to remember a special person. Wear the Remembrance Bracelet created with sterling silver message beads and Swarovski crystal beads. Customize two crystal beads in the Remembrance Bracelet to remember the special person with sentimental colors, such as birthstone colors, awareness colors, favorite colors or symbolic colors. The two sentimental crystals included in the Remembrance Bracelet are personalized just for you."
Perhaps you know someone who would be blessed by this bracelet and would like to give it as a gift. Or maybe you've been touched by an abortion personally or would just like to wear it yourself in remembrance of lives lost and hearts forgiven and set free. Either way I'm so thankful to be able to bless one of you with this beautiful gift. Your comment is your entry.
*Note: I will not accept comments of "great post!" or "I love what you wrote!" as entries into this giveaway because of the seriousness of the issue we've been dealing with. Only heartfelt comments will be accepted. Please leave your email address in your comment so that we can contact the winner. Owner only ships to residents of the United States.
From my heart...thank you for joining me this Sanctity of Human Life Week in "Whiter Than Snow." Your sincere comments, questions and encouragement have been more than I could ever have asked for.
As always, feel free to contact me bcmcglothlin (at) comcast (dot) net for help in healing from your abortion or just to talk and learn more about all we've talked about this week.
From my heart to yours...
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