The Official Writing Challenge
BACK TO
CHALLENGE
MAIN
INSTRUCTIONS
how it works
submission rules
guidelines for
choosing a level
ENTRIES
submit your entry
read current entries
read past entries
challenge winners
Our Daily Devotional HERE
Place it on your site or
receive it daily by email.


TRUST JESUS TODAY

  • Share
  • how it works
  • Submit
Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Write something in the YOUNG ADULT or TEEN genre (06/07/07)
Sitting on the edge of the bath, I did not even notice that my hands were shaking uncontrollably. All I could see were two blue lines on the pregnancy test.

I was pregnant!

"Oh no," I whispered. "this can't be happening, not to me." Seventeen, and dux of year twelve, my future had never looked brighter. Until this moment.

My heart missed a beat and then thundered mercilessly in my chest. I cannot have this baby! My parents were strong Christians, as I have tried to be, but if they found out I have been sleeping with Danny, a deacon's son, they would skin me alive. Not to mention what effect this would have on the whole church if they found out that teenagers in the Youth Group were sleeping together.

I glanced at my fear stricken face in the mirror. My golden curls seemed to mock me, and a blanket of terror descended upon me, leaving me laboring for each breath.

"Oh God," I cried, "I'm so sorry, and I know this is wrong, but I can't have this baby. There is too much at stake." I wanted to cry, but the agony of this decision rendered my tear ducts dry.

I had to have an abortion. There was no other option. And I knew what to do. Just last week a school friend told me she had had an abortion from a young med student she knew.

Standing shakily I looked in the mirror again, and prayed, "Jesus, I'm really, really sorry, but I have to do this."

But even as I finished praying, a powerful, foreign thought sped through my mind, "Listen."

I took a step back in shock. The Lord spoke to me! And so clearly. But what did He mean? Listen to what?



A thump on the bathroom door. "Brenda! You finished in there? Something to show you!"

Slumping my shoulders in defeat, I unlocked the door and tied to bypass my little sister. This was no time for chit-chat. But Cynthia shoved something colorful in my face, "Look what I'm doing Bren," she said, "I'm knitting a scarf for you!"

I forced an empty smile on my face while moving Cynthia out of my way. "That's lovely, sis."

"Come on kids, breakfast is ready! You've got ten minutes to scoff it down or we'll be late to church," bellowed my father's voice.



I was staring at the bowl of steaming oats when my younger brother dropped his plaster encased forearm with a loud clunk onto the table next to my bowl.

"Hey Bren," he said while handing me a texta, "you said you'd sign my cast. But you gotta do it before me bone knits together, or what's the point?"

"Brenda, you OK this morning?" asked my father, his eyebrows knitted together with concern.

I mumbled some vague reply and pretended to eat.

My mother swept into the kitchen, "Is this shawl OK dear? I know it’s a loose knit weave, but I like it."

Standing up, my dad said, "Might be a tad cold, honey, but it suits you. Now, let's go to church!" He bundled us out the door but threw his arms around us all before we got in the car. "I love you guys, and I love the way God has knitted us together into a great family."



Church was agony. The wrong place to be in my condition. My face was hot, and my heart palpitated endlessly.

Finally the minister took the pulpit, opened his Bible, and said, "New International Version, Psalm 139:13. 'For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother's womb.'..."

My hands flew to my face in shock. Tears were streaming down my cheeks. Bowing my head, I prayed, "Oh Jesus, now I get it. You said to 'listen', and all morning everyone keeps talking about knitting. Now I see why. Oh Lord, I know what I've done is wrong, but this little baby in me, he or she has not done anything wrong. I could only see my own situation, I did not think about the baby. I did not realise that You are, even this very moment, knitting this baby together inside me..."

I started when a hand gently touched my shoulder. "What's wrong dear, why are you crying?" asked my mother.

I looked up and met her blue eyes. "Mom," I sniffed, "I'm going to have a baby..."
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
Accept Jesus as Your Lord and Savior Right Now - CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
This article has been read 1474 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Lisa Holloway
06/15/07
Wow--pretty intense. Definitely not an ideal situation, but I think it's good how you showed that even in those times, God will speak to us if we let him. I always like that verse about God knitting us together in the womb. He has a plan for each of us, no matter how we came about and can bless any situation if we let him.
Kaylee Blake 
06/15/07
Wow! I read the title and thought, "Knitting doesn't have anything to do with abortion..." lol, you've proven my wrong! This is an excellent piece. If it doesn't place, I highly encourage you to maybe expand it just a bit and enter it somewhere else. (Boy, I wish I'd written this!)
Verna Cole Mitchell 
06/15/07
This story makes its point wonderfully and shows us how God can speak to the heart of a teen, as well as an adult. His little hints aren't accidental.
Dee Yoder
06/16/07
I think a Crisis Pregnancy Center could use a story like this in the literature they hand out. I like the way you tied the knitting theme running through the story together at the end. Good story!
David Butler
06/18/07
Powerful & sobering yet comforting message. Well done.
Benjamin Graber
06/18/07
I liked how you "weaved" the knitting theme through the story. Good job!
Sharon Henderson
06/21/07
Not fair! You made me cry with the last line. I was FINE until then! :-)

I agree that you should develop this for a Crisis Pregnancy Center to use.
Lyn Churchyard
05/07/08
You have written in the teenage girl's voice beautifully. The fear and the panic are so well done. This story definitely needs to be out there where young girls are going through this very situation. It just might stop someone from making a terrible mistake.