My Family and I decided to do a different type of “hosting” in our home; one that would help a pregnant young woman who initially was not sure if she wanted to carry her baby to term.
We are happy that we were able to help the young woman. She’s thrilled that she had her baby, now a precious 15-month-old girl.
At the start, we just wanted to provide the young woman a safe place to live while she worked out how to get her feet on the ground. And that is exactly what happened.
I don’t think she listened much to the advice we gave to her on such basics as budgeting, saving money, and the realities of life. But she knew she was loved and safe at our home. She knew we wouldn’t turn her out on the street. She knew that it was because of the love in our hearts put there by God Himself that we were there for her. And she knew that we did all this while having five children of our own and an orphan from the other side of the globe.
When this young mother decided that it was time for her and her baby to leave our home, she knew our door would always remain open and that we’d always be friends.
She’s now a working single mom and we regularly help care for her baby. I’m so proud of this young mom for choosing life when her family and boyfriend (now an ex) encouraged her to abort. She loves her baby. It’s written all over her face. And somehow I see myself in her eyes. She goes to church with us every week and it’s been a great source of joy for my children to participate in caring for her little girl and hanging out with the mom who is still very young herself. She now comes to us for some advice and to help share her burdens.
I’m thankful to Safe Families for helping make all of us better people.
By: Lisa and Doug Thomas, and our beautiful children, Lily, Holly, Sage, Aspen, and Cedar