Your Support Can Make All the Difference to a Young and Unexpectedly Pregnant Woman

I've been reading the posts over on Lisa Belkin's Motherlode blog. A young woman named Emmie, just 22 years old, wrote to Lisa to say that she found herself unexpectedly pregnant, and wasn't sure what to do. Her email, which Lisa posted on her blog was so familiar to me, I wondered if I'd read her story in our Single Parents' Forum!

That's because we often receive questions from young women who are looking for advice on what to do. And, like Lisa, every time it happens, I'm struck by the support that comes through from visitors and other members. Some write just to offer encouragement, others share what got them through a similar situation. But, for the most part, each one shares thoughtfully, and with consideration. As a result, different views are shared openly, with the common goal of supporting a sister. In fact, it's rare that someone chimes in just to attack or try and turn the forum into a political platform. (Though now that I've said that "out loud," you can be sure someone will!)

And it's upsetting when that happens, because so often the person who is on the "attack" isn't really listening, or has no clue of what the person's life is really like.

When I was a teenager, I was challenged by a pastor who was preaching about the sanctity of life. His message wasn't aimed at those who might find themselves facing a question like Emmie's. No, his message was for those who tend to sit in judgment. What he said was this: If you're going to call yourself "pro-life," then you have to go out and babysit for the women who decide to keep their babies. Isn't that a great message?

It stuck with me, and I think of it often when a young pregnant woman like Emmie writes in asking for help. Ultimately, as much as many of us might want to steer her decision making in one way or another, she's the only one who can make the decision to keep her baby, give it up for adoption, or have an abortion. But I challenge you, like Bishop Daniel Cox challenged me when I was 14 years old, if you believe she should keep the baby, or choose to give it up for adoption, you've got to step up and do something to make that possible.

Now, I understand that not all of us are in a position to help Emmie through her decision, but each of us can help an Emmie. So I encourage you to keep your eyes open for the opportunity to lend a hand, a shoulder, and your support to a mom who faced a tough decision and lives with the consequences everyday. (Because if we're honest, those consequences are good and bad, aren't they? Because none of the options are easy.)

So how can you help? Bring over a meal, offer to drive a single mom's kids to baseball practice with your son, offer to babysit--for free!--so she can have more than 15 minutes to herself once in a while. Think about it, be creative, and, like I said, keep your eyes open. The opportunities are all around you. I encourage you to come back and tell us about it, too. What did you do that made a difference today for a single mom doing the toughest job on earth?

Related: Questions Every Pregnant Single Woman Must Face | Help for Pregnant Women

Follow me on Twitter | Join my Facebook page