A Baby is Saved

Tonight I attended a baby shower. You might think this is not unusual. However, this baby's mother, Samantha, was originally going to abort her baby. Samantha is only 19 years old. She had a previous abortion. The father of the baby is the same one who fathered the other baby who was aborted. He wants Samantha to abort this one, too. He doesn't love her. He abuses her sexually, verbally and emotionally. He merely uses her for his own sexual pleasure, as is evidenced by the fact that he doesn't want anything to do with the life he has created with Samantha.

Samantha comes from a broken home. Her own mother lives in Wyoming. Sam was living with her sister and her father until two months ago. At that time, when she was considering abortion, my friend Barb found out through someone who knew Samantha's
mother, that this girl needed help. Barb called Samantha and lovingly counseled her about the life growing within her womb. Barb is a sidewalk counselor and has had some success in talking women out of having abortions in the past. Samantha was willing to listen. Barb also got on the phone and called many of her pro-life friends and asked them to get as many people as possible praying for Samantha to change her mind and to carry the baby to term. She lined up a couple of people willing to adopt the baby as well. Samantha agreed to think about it. She was afraid that her father would beat her up if he learned that she was pregnant.

A couple of short weeks later, Samantha moved in with a very loving family who agreed to let her stay with them for awhile while she got her life in order; including cutting it off with her abusive boyfriend and making important decisions for herself and her unborn baby. This family showed her a lot of love and support.

Through many continued prayers and the love and kindness showed by this family and the Catholic community that supported her, including the youth group she joined and made friends with, she decided to move out west to Wyoming and be with her mother for support. She also decided to keep the baby herself and be responsible for the life she is carrying within. She's not yet ready to take the leap of faith and return to her Catholic roots, but, she has now had the example of this wonderful Catholic family to remind her of God's love for the rest of her life.

Tonight they held a baby shower for her. She's been living with them for two months. She received gifts from some people she hardly knew, including myself. She received loving cards and gifts from members, both male and female, of the youth group, from the religious sister from our parish, and from relatives and friends of the family who took her in, and from Barb. We ended the shower by praying a decade of the rosary together, and by offering prayers for Samantha's welfare and safe travels to Wyoming. Not only did she receive material gifts for herself and her baby, but, more importantly, she received gifts of love and prayer, far greater than she would have ever known, had she decided to take the path she originally planned to take when we all first heard of her. Thank you, Jesus, for surrounding Samantha with your love and protecting her with the prayers of the community whom you placed her in.