Have you faced an "Unplanned Pregnancy"?
As we approach Christmas, I cannot help but think of Mary, the mother of Jesus. She was a teenager – maybe 13-15 years old. She was engaged to be married, yet a virgin.
Talk about shock when she hears from the angel that she will become pregnant! That might be expected for a young girl fooling around, though it may be a surprise when her methods of “prevention” don't prevent. But Mary had to ask the question, HOW CAN THIS BE since I am a virgin? (See Luke 1:26-38) It defied logic. Talk about an unplanned pregnancy!
I’m sure Mary, after submitting herself to the will of God so gracefully, started wondering how she was going to tell her parents.
What would Joseph think? There was a law at that time that a woman pregnant outside of marriage should be stoned. Was she in danger? I’m sure she felt alone. Frightened – terrified even. She knew they would all find out eventually – when she didn’t separate herself as the law required when her time of woman came each month. I’m sure she questioned whether this was the right time for her to become a mother. She probably doubted whether she had what it would take to raise a son – much less the son of God!
But Joseph, being a righteous man, did not want to publicly shame Mary. He put her away quietly and protected both her dignity and her life and was a crucial instrument in protecting the innocent, beautiful life of the Son of God. He didn’t listen to the culture. He didn’t fall prey to the expectations of his neighbors or his Rabbi. He didn’t follow the requirements so stringently placed on him by the “law.” And I’m sure he was ridiculed, probably lost friends and maybe even some of his standing as a Jewish man in Nazareth.
And I started musing over the fact that God would choose a virgin to bear his son. Outside of the necessary fact of Jesus being separate from Adam’s seed, I wonder if God chose a virgin to give us a beautiful picture of grace in the midst of an “unplanned pregnancy.”
What if it Happened Today?
I cannot help but wonder what Mary would endure if today in our culture, in our country, she found herself in those circumstances – A member of a minority group, a very young teenager, she finds out she is pregnant and no one knows who the father is, and she's a part of a religious community that scorns shame and embarrassment. Would she find the support she needed? Or would she more likely be taken to a clinic to “take care of the problem?” Would her parents want their daughter to have a life and opportunities? Would they fear that no one would accept her, much less marry her if she has a child at her age? "She’s not ready to become a mother." Her parents might think. Would they look for a solution in order to protect their daughter and themselves?
The problem is, "fixing the problem" would affect me and everyone else on the planet who ever lived. Getting rid of that "blob of tissue" would have destroyed the Savior of the world and denied the possibility of salvation through Christ.
Each "Unplanned pregnancy" has the potential to change the world!
If you have ever had to face an unplanned pregnancy, I care! I validate the fears, the struggles, any shame or embarrassment you may have had to face. I validate the hard parts of pregnancy and how having a baby may change your life. I validate that it can be isolating and feel so very alone, and I want you to realize that even Mary the mother of Jesus can relate to each of these sentiments!
If you're struggling right now, I'd love to know how I can pray for you! I'd love to help you find the support and resources you need to thrive in this difficult time! I'd love to help you find help financially, emotionally, and physically.
So many resources exist today to help mamas in these situations. So please, DM if you need help finding them.
I've linked a few below:
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