I got to do something for the first time: send out a congratulations email over the ACFW loop to my good friend, Angela Meuser. She recently sold her first book! It is a mid-grade novel called The Water Fight Professional and will release in 2010. (If that sounds far away, you’re under thirty. Time passes faster this side of the big 3-0.)
She responded on loop, but gave me permission to share her email.
Thanks to Christina and to all who congratulated me on the sale of THE WATER FIGHT PROFESSIONAL. I’m very excited. God’s timing is perfect. Here’s a personal glimpse of what this has meant to me…
In college I was studying journalism and creative writing and had big plans for my life. Then, my junior year I got pregnant. I was offered an abortion, but instead I chose to marry my husband and move up to Portland with him. Giving up my dream was heart-breaking. I felt like a failure. Later on I came to realize that finishing college would have been the easy thing to do. By making my unexpected family a priority in my life, I had to become bold–to believe that I could have a life other than what I planned for myself.
Selling my book yesterday was awesome, but I wondered, “Out of all the days I have been writing, why did God pick this day for my first sale?” I wanted to find the value. I found it last night after my husband and I watched the movie Bella. The movie was about an abortion. My husband said to me, “Can you believe that the doctor asked us if we wanted to have an abortion with Jordan?” Then it hit me. If I hadn’t raised Jordan, I never would have written THE WATER FIGHT PROFESSIONAL. He was my inspiration.
I thought I’d been giving up a dream when I dropped out of college, but God used my mistake to create a whole new dream…and to fulfill it. I’m so humbled. At the beginning of Bella there is a quote that fits: “If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans.” It’s not about me.
Thanks again for all your caring and encouragement.
Sincerely,
Angela Meuser
http://angela-lightenup.blogspot.com
Christina, again. Someone might stumble upon this post in a desperate time. If you are that someone, and you are facing pressure to abort, please don’t do it. God has awesome plans for that child and for you. Out of all the women on earth, He chose you to carry that particular baby. Whether He wants you to raise the baby or to give it up for adoption is between you and Him.
I have friends in their forties, still dealing with grief over aborting when they were teenagers. It is a regret you do not want to carry. It can never be undone. It can be forgiven and the Lord can heal your heart, but the long-lasting consequences are not worth the temporary, false peace.
An unwed teenager is expecting right now, a girl I happen to love. I’ve watched her grow up, and I’m watching her make the decision to keep the baby, despite her mother wanting her to abort. I’m praying, praying, praying she will stay strong.
If you’re reading this and you have already aborted, please contact your local Pregnancy Resource Center. They offer post-abortive recovery groups. If you’re considering an abortion, please call them. They will talk you through all your options and help you make a choice that is not based on fear.
This post is so inspirational. When I was in 8th grade I read the book, The Family Nobody Wanted, about a young minister and his wife who found they could not have biological children. In time they discovered God had a greater plan for their life and began adopting children from overseas, older children, and children with special needs. They ended up with over a dozen children. What blessings! I told my mother that as I read that book, God revealed to me that when I married I would not be able to have biological children. His plan for my life was adoption. How did I know this at age thirteen? God told me. I married my husband (who was a minister) when I was twenty-seven and after three years of marriage we found out we were unable to have children. He cried. I was calm. After all God had all ready told me this would happen. We ended up adopting two children, four years apart. Kimberly was 6 weeks when we got her and she is now twenty-six. Four years later I was at the hospital when Matthew was born. He is now twenty-three. Rick and I could not imagine life without them. When Kimberly was 10 she had a book published by Standard Publishing called A BEAR NAMED SONG. It’s about her adoption story. Although the book is out of print, it can still be found online on the secondary market. Thank you Christina for your message here and I cannot wait to purchase your new book and to read it. Keep being a blessing!
Robin Shope
To God be the Glory!
Great things He has done.
Wildcard 2008
The Christmas Edition 2008
The Chase
The Replacement
The Candidate
shoutlife.com/robin_shope
http://write2robinshope.blogspot.com/
Wow! All things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose. I just love to watch Him work. And I’m planning on adopting someday, too. Thanks for sharing my story, Christina.