 It is important for me to share this today. It is important for everyone but most especially all women to see this image and read these words for the sake of everyone, for the sake of the dignity of ALL persons.
This is an image of a young girl holding her high school graduation cap that she decorated. (I know her personally and have permission to share this). It includes all of the typical girly things like fur, rhinestones and pretty butterflies. But it also includes something that was not around in 1973 - ultrasound pictures. Her cap proudly includes pictures of her unborn child with the words, "I did it for us!" This young girl is my hero and I know that her little daughter due in October will look up at her and call her hero too one day. Why you ask? Because in a society that tells you to terminate a life so that you can still have your "hopes and dreams and aspirations," to get an abortion so that you can "succeed," seeing this show of motherhood, of solidarity with the unborn child and quite frankly the courage of someone so young going against the tide makes me drop to my knees and thank God for His unending mercy. Our young people today are being lied to. Our young women today are being lied to. Our society screams out that you cannot succeed if you get pregnant. That you cannot accomplish your dreams and aspirations if you carry a baby to full term and give birth. That you are not strong enough. That you are not brave enough. That you are not courageous enough. That we as your family and friends are not able to support you. That we as strangers are not charitable enough to support you. And instead of encouraging you to bring forth life and fulfill your dreams, our society is trying to convince you that you just cannot do it. Well I say, "Not today Satan, not today!" Today I show you a young woman who has embraced the life inside of her no matter her circumstances. I show you a family who has chosen to support her AND I show you a city, a state and a nation of people who are willing to step in and help her when those close to her cannot. That is the true strength and power and courage of a WOMAN. A woman in relationship with her community. She absolutely CAN do it! I also show you the sonogram photos. The ultrasound that when introduced should have changed our minds about legal abortion, it should have revealed the truth of the humanity and personhood of the unborn fetus. But instead, we now use it to locate the unborn in the womb in order to tear it apart and discard of it. May God forgive us. Ladies! Be strong. Be powerful. Be courageous. Be a mother no matter the cost if that is where you find yourself. Knowing that the true purpose of a valedictorian speech is to INSPIRE OTHERS to go out and accomplish their goals, THIS young high school mother is a valedictorian to me! Personally, I lost my second child to abortion. I should have been a hero to my child just like this beautiful high school mother is to hers right now! But I wasn't. So now I join in spirit with every teenage mother who has chosen life for her child! Please know that your decision to be strong, to be powerful and to be courageous so your child can live is a balm for my aching heart, a salve for my soul. Your choice for life helps heal all of our broken hearts. You are the true valedictorians, you are the true heroines of our time - our hope for the future is in you and the fruit of your courage. THANK YOU! #motherhood #teenagepregnancy #highschoolmom #capandgown #truevaledictorian #unbornlivesmatter #strengthpowerandcourage #wecandoit #chooselife #trueheroines
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 I was going through old photos last week to make a video for our son's high school graduation and I found this- my high school Senior picture.
But here is the thing...I never actually graduated from high school. That is correct. Actually, I dropped out of high school in 10th grade because I became pregnant and eventually on and off homeless. I took some classes while pregnant in a special home for unwed pregnant teenage girls...that was awkward. I took some classes at a high school when I was shipped out to Northern California because I was so severely abused by my boyfriend at the time that we all feared for my life...that was traumatic. But I never graduated. Finally, at around 20 years old and only a 10th grade education, I heeded the pleading and begging of a dear friend's mother (who was a teacher) and I took my GED exam. Thank you Ms. Gail Purvis, you were a sprinkle of hope in my life at that time. I remember sitting in the GED counselor's office after taking the "prep test" to see if I would actually pass the GED exam or if I needed to take some classes and listening to the counselor say, "Why aren't you in high school finishing your diploma? Your scores are so high you could go to college on scholarships!" I muttered, "No, thanks, just give me the damn test please." And there it was. I took the GED exam and passed with a score that made the counselor shake his head as I walked out of there that day. But I never graduated high school, so when I come across this picture I tend to laugh inside. And then it makes me sad because it reminds me that... I have never heard the graduation march play as I walked across a stage. I have never been on the stage, receiving my diploma and shaking someone's hand at the same time. I have never turned and looked into the stands and smiled as all of my family screamed and cheered for me. I have never turned my tassel or have thrown my cap up in the air. I will never have a high school reunion. So that is why I go big when my children do all of the things I never was able to experience. When my children walk across that stage, they take me with them in spirit - not just as a proud mother but as an 18 year old street kid who dropped out of high school but who is now living in this moment with them! My children provide so much more for me than I could have ever imagined and I am so thankful to them, my husband and God for this amazing life I have. Congratulations to all the graduates out there this month! Appreciate it deeply, not everyone gets a chance to experience it. You are truly blessed. |
AuthorCatholic convert. Deacon's wife. Nana. Homeschoolers. Mama of 5. Advocate. Author. Speaker. Foodie. Apron wearer. (Oh I love aprons!) Don't judge. Archives
March 2023
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