Mother's Day
In my years working with women in unplanned pregnancy, I have
often said once the pregnancy test is positive the choice facing a woman is
not whether she wants to become a mother or not - because that decision has
already been made. Now that she is a mother, her first decision as a parent
is what is she going to choose to be best for her and her child?
As
parents we all face difficult decisions every single day regarding the well
being of our children. Those decisions we face begin the moment we discover
we are expecting a child. A mother has three choices for her child.
She
can choose abortion. She can choose to carry the child to term and parent.
Or she can carry the child to term and choose that the very best home for
her child would be in the home of a couple she chooses. She has so many “choices.”
All of them are hard — and only the first of many difficult decisions
as a parent.”
As
a single parent who faced this choice once, I can tell you looking back, now
that I have faced other choices for my son, I can’t even say for sure
that it is the most agonizing of all — but it is in the top four. And
the pregnancy resource centers that help women face this choice every day
have stories of success and need your help this Mother’s Day for all
the new mothers they welcome.
The
Pregnancy Resource Center in Oceanside said “recently we had a client
return with a baby girl in her arms. She shared it was difficult to walk in
because she tried to abort 3 times and every time all she could remember was
the prayer that her counselor prayed for her the day she stepped into Pregnancy
Resource Center. Because of that prayer she shared, “that her daughter
was in her arms today and the joy of her life.” We asked what is her
name? She shared that she named her “Amiracle because she truly is a
miracle.”
And
wouldn’t you know it, the volunteer counselor was on her shift the day
she stopped by to say thank you!
The
Adoption Center of San Diego helps the mothers that chose an adoptive home
as the best for their children. Director Sarah Jensen writes, “I host
an annual Birth Mother’s Day luncheon. Women who have placed their babies
for adoption are certainly mothers, but are not often acknowledged as such.
So we get together so I can acknowledge them and they support and encourage
each other. We’ve usually incorporated an art therapy project after
the luncheon.“
And
Birth Choice in Encinitas is honoring mothers by offering special Mother’s
Day gift cards for the first time to kick off our fundraising for their clinic
conversion. People may make a donation and then send their honored mother,
grandmother or other special woman a specially designed card explaining the
donation they made in their honor.
The
text of the card reads: “Because you welcomed me into your life...I
have made a gift in your honor to Birth Choice of Encinitas. With this gift,
more women will learn to be like you...they will welcome, nurture, teach and
love their children just as you have done. Happy Mother’s Day with love
and gratitude,” Proverbs 31:29, “Many women have done noble things,
but you surpass them all.” Information about Birth Choice and the clinic
conversion appears on the back of the card.
If
you would like to support these special mothers and the volunteers that work
with them, please contact the center nearest you in the roster on this page.
For the Mothers’ Day Card program at Birth Choice, please call 760-942-5220.
There is a minimum donation of $20 for each card. Their staff will mail you
the cards you request. Or you may purchase the cards at the Birth Choice office,
366-B N. El Camino Real, Encinitas.
Blessings
to you on Mother’s Day and may you share that blessing with other new
mothers.