WITH THIS RING – a novel – will be posted all through this month
By: Pastor Taiwo Iredele Odubiyi
Read and be blessed.
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(Day 12)
“He wants you to abort it?” Richard asked.
Grace 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.
A corner of his mouth turned up in a smile. “You are right. God will forgive you because He is a merciful God but that does not mean He will be happy with what you want to do. Besides, sin has consequences. If you know what you are about to do is wrong and you would have to ask for forgiveness later, why should you do it? Why don’t you stop?”
She shook her head. “I don’t want to become a single parent. My mother is a single parent. I know what she went through … and is probably still going through. I don’t want the same life for myself and this baby. Besides, what would people say? They would say that my mother is a single parent, and her daughter is going to become a single parent as well!”
He smiled to soften the impact of what he was about to say. “Well, I’m sorry to say but being pregnant is the consequence of a bad choice. That’s the truth but it has happened and there is nothing anyone can do to undo it but you can begin to make good choices from now.”
Pointing at the Bible on his table, he said, “The Bible encourages us in Hebrews chapter twelve to: Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed. Do you understand?”
Rather than answer, she said, “People will talk about me.”
“Some people will talk about you but don’t let that bother you. Focus on doing the right thing.”
Tears filled Grace’s eyes and she shifted her gaze from him to the table.
Richard spoke again. “You said that your mother struggled. Yes, she struggled but look at you now. Look at the person you have become – a lawyer! I tell you, Grace, you and your baby will be fine.”
She closed her eyes and as the tears flowed down her cheeks, she wiped them with her hand before they would fall on her skirt and stain it.
Richard leaned forward and took her left hand in his right hand in a comforting way. “Who knows what your child would become? He or she might become a doctor, a lawyer like you or the next President Obama. Who knows?”
She shook her head sadly. “I had my plans.”
“It’s okay, Grace.” He released her hand, took the box of tissue on his table and placed it in front of her. “Here.”
She pulled a tissue and wiped her face.
Richard went on. “You can still fulfill your plans. As soon as your baby is old enough to be left with a trusted person, you can continue with your career and whatever else you want to do. Do you understand?”
She didn’t talk.
“Grace?”
She opened her mouth to talk but closed it back.
“Just say yes. Promise me you won’t terminate it.”
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
He spoke again. “Your mother allowed you to live; she is an example to you. Give your baby a chance; let your baby live as well, Grace. You will have to put your trust in God. Inspite of it all, though you sinned against Him, if you ask God for help, He will help you. He will send help.”
He waited for a response from her. When there was none, he spoke again. “If you choose to keep your baby, you will be okay. Things may look really bad now but they won’t remain like that for long. Robert Schuller wrote a book, Tough Times Don’t Last But Tough People Do. I believe it. Becoming a single parent is not the end of your life, trust me. I’m sure you will be able to get Albert to support you but let’s assume he chooses not to, do you think you won’t be able to cope? You will, Grace.” He assured her. “You will be fine. Just get closer to God, be strong in Him and with a little hard work, determination and support from people who love you, you will make it.”
Opening her eyes, she rolled them up toward the ceiling as she spoke. “It’s not that I don’t want the baby. I’m not heartless or stubborn … I know what is right but,” she looked at him, “What about the shame, the change in my life and plans? I’m not prepared.”
He cleared his throat and said, “Can I tell you another truth? When you say such things, you are thinking of only yourself. You should think about the baby and the baby’s future. And think about God.”
He reached out and took her right hand again in an assuring way. “Don’t worry. Let not your heart be troubled, believe in God, believe in Jesus.”
She inhaled deeply and blew the air out of her mouth again.
“It’s okay, Grace.” He comforted her.
She shook her head. “I shouldn’t be pregnant now. I’ve just started working here; it’s not up to six months.”
He shrugged. “Well,”
“And my mother! It will break her heart. She will be so, so upset.”
“That’s only to be expected but I know she will eventually get over it and support you.”
“The church, my friends, what will they say?”
He nodded to show he understood her concerns. “I know. I understand you but as far as God is concerned, you have made the right decision about the pregnancy. That’s the important thing.”
“Oh my God!”
“I understand how you are feeling. I know what it feels like to be in a bad situation.” He said and smiled. “Let me tell you something about myself that you don’t know.”
He sat back on his chair and rested his head. He was silent for some seconds before he spoke. “I’ve also made my share of mistakes. That was why I said that I know what it feels like to make a mistake and be in a bad situation. As I told you earlier, Tammy and I got married about nine years ago. We were both Christians, virgins and we loved each other. We were certain there was no mountain we could not move. We started well … the foundation was right but along the line in our marriage, challenges came and we became distracted.”
As he talked, he had a faraway look in his eyes. “The first challenge was that Tammy could not conceive. That was a big shock to us. It never crossed our mind that it could happen. With time, that began to affect our relationship. She became very emotional, always weeping and I became very impatient with her, always snapping. Without realising it, I was moving away from her and getting closer to a female member of my church.”
His revelation got Grace’s full attention.
To be continued.
You will learn about the mercy of God and that there is hope for you, in this novel.
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