Bridgitt

I need to level set this since no one in Bloglandia will know you:

I first met Bridgitt thru my involvement with youth ministry.
Just an average 11 year old girl,
With a tragic past,
A troubled present,
And a horrific future.
That would be without God intervening .....

So, Bridgitt, God did intervene,
But, you could not recognize this,
Perhaps because of your filters,
Based on your life experiences.
Perhaps because you had not learned to trust.

Admittedly, you scared me to death!
What you needed was a strong father figure to take you in hand.
I was gun shy.
And I was very ill.
And none of the other youth leaders understood your plight,
As I so plainly saw.
Worse, no one cared.
And I could do little.

Many of the talks I gave to the group,
Were actually just for you.
I did what I could do,
When I was in town.
And, when I could give rides,
And, I have prayed for you for decades!

When you found me online,
I was delighted to see one of "my kids" pop back up!
And saddened to see how life has been a struggle for you.

Years ago, had you thought to come to me,
I would have told you the tale of Darla.

I was working under contract to a large company,
Helping them to define their methodologies for program maintenance.
Darla was my secretary along with another girl named Grace.
And everyone knew I was an odd duck because I make no bones about being a Christian.

So, one lunch hour, my secretaries pop in to my office for a "discussion".
Odd, but okay .....

Darla - "So Kris, where do you stand on the abortion issue?"
Grace is biting her nails, I wonder if the question is hers....
Me - "I have always held that in this culture it is a matter of choice for a woman."

Darla - "Well no, I mean, what would you tell me if I was pregnant?"
Grace is chewing on her elbow now, so super stressed and I am basically clueless.
Me - "Well, I would tell you that only God can create life, you just get to participate! And for some reason, God values human life and calls it precious. Then as such it becomes a sin to take a human life. So, I would tell you, think of adopting out the child ....."

So the conversation went for 45 minutes.
It was weird.
Never happened before or since to me!

Darla failed to come in for work on Monday.
Monday evening I had a call on my voice recorder when I got home,
"Kris, I need you!"
But, Darla left no return number!
So all I could do was pray that night, without ceasing, for whatever Darla's issue was.
And wonder at how she could have gotten my number!

Tuesday, Grace was all upset,
Darla had died in the early morning hours.
Well, that was the end of my day!!!!!

Seems she had an abortion on Friday afternoon.
Went to the hospital with a high fever Monday.
And died from a pelvic infection that night!

I still sit here,
Decades later,
Empty.
Such a huge waste of a young life!
Somehow, my words did not sink in.

Or have a valid meaning to her.
And so her story has become one among many I share with youth.
Darla was real, yes that was her name!
And young women need to hear these tragic tales in order to protect themselves!
Death is very real.

So, Bridgitt,I am honored you chose to share your story with me,
Albeit too late to have saved a life.
And what are you to do now?

Very simple:
Tell God what you did (confess).
Ask for his forgiveness.
Change how you have been living so this will not happen again!
Find a solid church and become active -
Perhaps work with youth,
So they can avoid the traps you fell into!

And above all:
Remember I was there for you 30 years ago ...
I still am.
You were a part of my extended family,
That remains unchanged.

The next steps are up to you.