WITH THIS RING
( A novel by Pastor Taiwo Iredele Odubiyi )
Cont’d – 17
“I heard a little about your conversation. I just want to know what’s going on so I can help you … counsel you, pray with you.” Richard explained then asked again, “You are pregnant, right?”
Grace finally nodded, still looking at the file.
“You are a Christian. What do you think God will want you to do?”
She didn’t talk.
“I need you to answer. I’m trying to help you find the best way out.” He said, with eyes filled with compassion. “What do you think God would want you to do? Do you think He would want you to terminate it?”
She shook her head.
“Why?”
She inhaled deeply and released the air through her mouth. She closed her mouth, and then opened them again. “Because terminating it will be wrong. We should preserve lives.”
“That’s very true, Grace. Some things are just wrong. Abortion is one of them.” He paused for effect, and then went on. “What you have in your womb is a baby. A life is growing inside you.”
Still looking at her, he leaned forward and continued. “Let me tell you some other reasons why you should not terminate it.” Raising his right index finger, he said, “One, abortion is risky. Your womb could get damaged; the abortion might not be properly done which could lead to an infection; and the infection could block your fallopian tubes which could affect future fertility; your womb could also get punctured during the process of abortion; there could be internal bleeding; and you – or let me say the person could die.”
He brought the finger down, placed his left elbow on the table and said, “That’s not going to happen to you in Jesus’ name,” just as she prayed under her breath, I will not die in Jesus’ name.
He spoke again. “I’m sure you must have heard that some people died from abortion.”
She nodded slightly.
He went on. “Anything could happen from the abortion. Now, I’m not trying to scare you, I’m only telling you the reality.”
He raised the right index and the middle fingers. “Number two … people sometimes terminate pregnancies thinking that when the time is right and they are ready, they will get pregnant again but life sometimes doesn’t turn out that way. They might not be able to conceive again for -” he shrugged, “various reasons. I’ve been married for almost nine years but my wife has just conceived for the first time. We are Christians and married as virgins but for whatever reason, she couldn’t conceive before now!”
Shrugging, he went on, “Who knows if this is the only child you are meant to have in your life? You told me at a time that you are an only child. If your mother had terminated your life when you were conceived, she probably would be without a child now.”
He paused to allow his words sink in. Then he asked, “Who is responsible for the pregnancy?”
“Albert Asika.”
“Albert Asika?” He repeated, surprised. Albert had come to the office once to look for Grace and he knew they had become friends but he didn’t know they were this friendly. Was Albert even a Christian? He wondered.
Keeping his opinion to himself, he asked, “Is he the one you were talking with on the phone?”
“Yes.”
“He wants you to abort it?”
She nodded. “Yes. He said he’s not ready for commitment.”
“Then he shouldn’t have engaged in sex.” He pointed out.
Sitting back and resting his left hand on the armrest of his black leather chair, he spoke again. “Can I tell you something? If a man loves a woman or if he’s a responsible man, he would marry her or stay by her. He would not ask her to get rid of her pregnancy simply because he’s not ready. That’s the truth.”
Grace knew it.
“If you abort to please and keep him, you could still lose him. Such things don’t work. It doesn’t mean he would eventually marry you or be more committed. It’s just like when some men say – You will lose me if you don’t have sex with me. It’s a lie. Even if the lady gives sex, she will still lose such a man because he really doesn’t love her. He is in the relationship to satisfy his fleshly desires. You could risk your life today and he would marry another person tomorrow. You can’t stop him.” He told her.
He continued, “I don’t know how far you’ve gone in your relationship but I don’t see much love and commitment in it. And is God in it at all? If God’s not in it, then you have nothing. Don’t do the wrong thing because of your relationship. It’s not worth it.”
She took a deep breath.
“What is your heart telling you to do?” He asked.
“I know that abortion is wrong but -” She stopped and closed her eyes.
“But what?”
Opening her eyes, she said, “I don’t think I have a choice.”
He smiled. “How old are you now? Twenty three? Twenty four?”
“I’m twenty four. I know I’m old enough but that’s not the point. I – I don’t think -”
“Grace, you are a lawyer and you of all people know that you have a choice. I’m sure you know that if a man impregnates a woman, he is liable under the law for her upkeep and the total upbringing of the child until the child turns to an adult. You don’t have to abort this pregnancy. If you keep it, you’ll be okay somehow, trust me.”
She inhaled again and blew the air through her mouth. “I – I can’t keep it. And this is not about Albert.” She finally looked up at him with eyes that begged to be understood as she asked, “Can’t I do it and ask God for forgiveness? I’m sure He will forgive me.” She put the file on the table and placed her elbows on the table.
To be continued
This story is from the novel With This Ring by Taiwo Iredele Odubiyi
To purchase this novel and others by the same author, contact +234-8023000773
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https://m.okadabooks.com/search?term=Taiwo+Iredele+Odubiyi+
Website: www.pastortaiwoodubiyi.org
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