So, only a few days after John McCain's pick of Sarah Palin for his VP, we find out Palin's oldest daughter, Bristol, is pregnant.  Now, I am not posting to bring down the Palin family, but I want to share my thoughts about the situation.

Because I have felt called to someday open a crisis pregnancy center, my heart goes out to girls in Bristol's circumstance more than anything else.  These girls have given away something that was precious, even if they didn't realize it, and they're now feeling what happens when they do that. But, I do not believe that abortion is the right way to go.  Children are gifts, so I boldly applaud Bristol's choice to go through and have the child (and she's even planning to marry the father).  Many have now criticized the Palin's for being so pro-life, and so Christian, and so against this kind of thing out of wedlock, but I think that Dr. James Dobson says it best:

"In the 32-year history of Focus on the Family, we have offered prayer, counseling and resource assistance to tens of thousands of parents and children in the same situation the Palins are now facing. We have always encouraged the parents to love and support their children and always advised the girls to see their pregnancies through, even though there will of course be challenges along the way. That is what the Palins are doing, and they should be commended once again for not just talking about their pro-life and pro-family values, but living them out even in the midst of trying circumstances.

"Being a Christian does not mean you're perfect. Nor does it mean your children are perfect. But it does mean there is forgiveness and restoration when we confess our imperfections to the Lord. I've been the beneficiary of that forgiveness and restoration in my own life countless times, as I'm sure the Palins have.

"The media are already trying to spin this as evidence Gov. Palin is a 'hypocrite,' but all it really means is that she and her family are human. They are in my prayers and those of millions of Americans."

There are many Christian girls who make the same mistake, but that does not mean they are failures.  It means we too, as Christians, are not perfect.  We are saved by grace, and every time we make a mistake, are forgiven. 

I've heard Bristol is due in December, and I am praying for the whole Palin family on this challenge in their lives.  Whether Bristol is keeping the child, or giving the baby up for adoption, she has made the right decision to walk the walk in saying that every child should be given life. 

In Christ,
Messenger

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Posted by SincerelyAmanda

Exactly, all of us have flaws, so we cannot judge.
This falling out on Bristol's part can be graciously redeemed, and the Palins are certainly demonstrating pro-life values in ways that are not staged, but real (the Down's syndrome baby and now unwed pregnancy). Even their eldest daughter has a sense of honor at the age of 17 to know that the right thing to do is to keep the baby and get married.

Thanks for the good post!

~Amanda~

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Posted by CountryKell

I agree, she did make the right choice. It's really awesome to me when I see teenage girls make the right choice and save their baby's lives. And I am looking forward to see how the campaign goes. Good entry by the way, it was very well written.
-Kelly

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