Friday, October 26, 2012

Fiction Friday--Two Lessons

View detailsWell, there is was in black and white, or rather blue and white.  Lisa was pregnant.  She hadn't meant for this to happen.  She hadn't even intended to have sex with Bill.  It had happened one night after Lisa had been reprimanded at work by their boss.

Mr. Waltrop had pointed out her mistakes in front of the entire staff.  His tone of voice was condescending.  He questioned her intelligence and insinuated that maybe he had made a mistake in hiring her.  Lisa was embarrassed and humiliated.

After work, Bill found her sitting in her car crying.  Having witnessed the unprofessional behavior of their boss, he understood why Lisa was crying.  The episode was unnecessary and uncomfortable for the entire staff.

Bill walked over to Lisa's car and tapped on the window.  "Why don't we go somewhere and talk?"  Lisa agreed and drove to her house while Bill followed in his own car.  Once in the house, Lisa fell apart again.  She plopped down on her couch and let the tears flow.  When his words didn't calm her, Bill pulled her into his arms and held her.  After a while, Lisa ran out of tears and looked into Bills eyes.  It felt so good to have his arms around her.  It had been two years since her husband was killed in the accident.  Lisa hadn't realized how lonely she was.  Bill's wife had left him several months ago for another man and now his arms rejoiced to embrace a woman.

It didn't take long for the comforting to move into dangerous territory.  Slowly, they began to explore each others body.  By the time they realized what was happening, the fireworks were over.  There wasn't any love. There wasn't even an office romance.  It was two colleagues having sex when they were both vulnerable.

Now Lisa stared at the stick.  What am I going to do? I can't tell Bill about this.  We have no future together.  This will ruin both of our careers.  I need to think about aborting this pregnancy.

Lisa made an appointment with a pregnancy help center.  She knew she needed more information before making a decision.  At the center, she was immediately greeted by a man dressed in a suit.  He was polite, but sullen.  

After taking her information, he instructed her to go into a small room with a television.  After a few minutes, he entered the room, popped a DVD in and said, "We require that you watch a film and then a counselor will be in to talk to you."  He pushed play on the remote and quickly left the room.  Lisa sat alone in front of a television without knowing what to do expect.  There had been no explanation or introduction.  The film was a documentary of the three types of abortions.  She watched a live abortion conducted in the first trimester of pregnancy.  She cringed as a fetus was vacuumed out of the womb piece by piece.

By the time the third type began, Lisa was physically ill.  She ran from the room intent on leaving the facility.  She was stopped in the lobby by the same man who had greeted her.  "Did you finish watching the film?"

"No, I couldn't."
"Well, we won't be able to help you if you don't watch the entire film."
"That's fine.  I don't think I need you."  She told him as she ran from the room.

Lisa sat in her car trying to clear her head.  She had expected information about abortion, but not  such graphic details.  She really needed a little more time to think.  She still had to make a decision about her situation.

The following week, she called a second pregnancy help center.  The phone was answered by a cheerful woman with a pleasant voice.  At the sound of her voice, Lisa relaxed.  "Do you show abortion films?"

"No, we don't.  Do you need to see them for a reason?"
"No, I've seen them once and don't care to do it again."
"I understand.  Is there something else I can help you will?"
"I need an abortion."
"We don't do abortions.  We offer education so that every woman can make her own decision, but we will not try to sway you one way or the other."  The woman said in a kind voice.
"I need more information."
"Why don't we make an appointment for you so you can sit down with a counselor and talk about your options?"

Lisa was pleasantly surprised as she parked in front of the old Victorian-style house.  Despite what the woman had told her on the phone, she feared a repeat performance of the first center.  Walking in, Lisa noticed the time period decor of the Lobby and the smell of cookies being baked.  She instantly relaxed and headed for the desk.

After completing the intake forms, Lisa was introduced to Karen, one of the counselors.  The two women walked into the counseling room together.  It was well decorated with several chairs.  "Sit anywhere you like."  Karen instructed her.  After Lisa chose her seat, Karen sat in the chair across from her.  "Are you comfortable?  May I get you something to drink?"

"No, I'm fine.  Can I ask you some questions?"
"Absolutely.  I'll be glad to answer any questions you have.  Why don't I get a little more information from you and then go over some material with you?  Feel free to stop me at anytime if you have a question."
"I really just want more information about abortion."
"And we will certainly get that for you.  Let me get a little more information so I know which material you need to help you make a decision.  May I ask your age and occupation?"
"I'm twenty-eight and I'm an attorney."
" And your marital status?"
"I'm a widow."
"Oh I am so sorry to hear that.  Did you lose your husband recently?"
"It's been two years, but it seems like yesterday."
"Do you have the support you need?  Are you involved in a church?"
"No, neither one of us were very churchy.  It seemed sort of hypocritical to go to church after his death."
"Do you have a relationship with Jesus Christ?"
"I wasn't raised to pray very much.  That doesn't mean that I never pray, but not on a regular basis."
"Do you know much about God?"
"No, just what I see on television."
"Do you know what he did for you?"
"No, what did he do?"
"He sent His Son to die on the cross to pay for your sins."
"Well I'm not a bad person."
"No you aren't, but the Bible tells us that we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God.  None of us can pay for that sin, so God sent His Son to do it for us."  By the time Karen finished telling her the plan of salvation, Lisa was hooked.  She had never heard anything like it and certainly couldn't explain the feeling she was experiencing.  Lisa bowed her head and accepted Christ as Savior in the counseling room.  Karen handed Lisa a bag containing several small items for baby and mother.  "Now what would you like to do about your baby?"
"I still want an abortion.  I can't keep this baby."
"Then let's go over the educational information and then you can decide what to do."
"Aren't you a Christian?"
"Yes, why?"
"Well, I thought Christians were supposed against abortion."
"Personally I am against abortion.  But my job here at the center is to educate you so you can make an informed decision."  Karen went on to explain the procedures as well as other options.  Her voice was kind and caring with no inference.  Lisa felt safe with Karen.
After covering the information, Karen told Lisa, "We can support you in several ways here at the center.  We have classes here and everyone earns points for attending.  They can spend those points in our blessing room.  We keep everything you would need for the baby in that room."

Lisa smiled as she listened to Karen talk about the program.  Babies were exciting, even if she wasn't going to keep hers. 

After the session, Karen prayed for Lisa and then escorted her to the lobby.  As she was leaving, Karen reached over and hugged her.  Somehow Lisa didn't mind, which was surprising since she wasn't a big one for hugging.

Lisa didn't know it, but as soon as she left Karen called the staff together to pray for Lisa as she made a life changing decision.

Lisa drove home feeling like a weight had been lifted off her shoulder.  Yet there was a nagging in her heart.  What is the problem?

The next morning she was sure of the abortion procedures and picked up the phone to call for an appointment.  Somehow she couldn't push the buttons on the phone.  She could see the number, but her fingers wouldn't push the buttons.  She replaced the receiver and went back to work.  I'll try later.
Twice more that day she tried unsuccessfully to make the call.  Lord, I need some guidance.  I don't know what to do.  On a whim, she decided to stop by the pregnancy help center on the way home.

Karen greeted her as if she had been waiting for her.  Immediately Lisa felt at home.  "I need to talk to you, if you have time."

"Of course, I have time.  How can I help you?"

"I keep trying to schedule my abortion, but somehow I can't seem to dial the number."

"Maybe God is trying to tell you something."
"Do you think He wants me to keep my baby?"
"It doesn't matter what I think.  What do you think?"
"It doesn't seem practical to keep a baby at this time in my life."
"God often calls us to do the impractical."
Lisa began to cry.  "I don't think I can abort a baby.  I don't know what I will do, but I can't abort."
"Remember there are other options." Karen reminded her.
"I'll think about them.  I'll be back when I've made a decision, but there will be no abortion."










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