In my generation being a teen mother was a taboo. Young girls who became pregnant, felt unloved, shamed and fear because as far as society was concerned they were hopeless, loss and uneducated. Many of these girls were unable to complete their high school education because of the demands of motherhood and the lack of social and emotional support. These unwed mothers as they were labeled also lacked the financial resources to support their child/children. Many young ladies were sent to local homes for unwed moms or sent down south to live with relatives unknown. The church and community were both un-accepting of teenage mothers.
I remember going to the State capital as a member of a local coalition to support teen mothers and at the same time thinking about how little support my own sister received when she became a teen mom. People whispered and looked at her differently and our own mother confided in me that she felt ashamed and that others were looking down on her, especially church members. It is funny that not a lot has changed in terms of how teen girls who get pregnant before they should are looked at. I have heard a lot of the nasty comments that people make when girls make the mistake of getting pregnant before they should. I have even thought why would they want to make their life hard. However, they don't want a hard life, they have just chosen to live with the unintended consequences of their actions.
So today when I look at these girls I see their courage, and their strength because they simply could have made other choices. I know what the bible says about family so please don't go quoting me scripture. The bible also says that God is a supreme judge and both the author and finisher of our faith. So I challenge all of the negative thoughts that come to your mind and mine own with this Ephesians 4:32 "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you" and Luke 6: 37 " Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven" These are hard lessons because each of us views the world from our own lens and experience, however the Lord clearly tells us to not pick on people, talk about their failures, unless we want the same results to happen in our lives. A old lady use to say to me that you point your fingers and your thumb is pointing back at you. I use to wonder what that meant but now I know. There are things that we just need to remain silent on and learn how to be more supportive. Help someone who is struggling today!! Help a young lady, a teen girl or a woman who has lost her way. There are so many people that just need support. So have the courage to set yourself apart from the ordinary and learn to do good.