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She placed her coffee cup she brought on the coffee table in front of her and slid the laptop off to the side. When she touched the keyboard mouse, the computer woke up, revealing the last website the user searched. She noticed Planned Parenthood on the screen.
“Here let me get this out of your way so you can have more space for your cup.” Elizabeth snapped the laptop closed and moved it quickly while avoiding eye contact with Stacey. She was sure the web site popped up before she could close it. Shame and embarrassment shrouded her face.
Noticing Elizabeth’s reaction, Stacey picked up her cup, leaned back on the couch and asked; concern filling her voice as recognition dawned. It only took her a few quick seconds to connect all the dots. “Elizabeth, are you pregnant?”
With fear in her eyes, and condemnation in her voice, Elizabeth turned to her neighbor. “It’s none of your business. You should leave. I’m feeling tired and need to go lie down.”
Elizabeth said this in a dismissive tone, stood up from her chair and headed toward the steps. Stacey could tell she was being dismissed; her stay was over. Standing up, she followed Elizabeth to the door.
“Do your parents know? If you need anything, I can help.” Concern was oozing from Stacey’s voice.
“It’s not what you think, Stacey. And my parents know I am anemic and dehydrated. Thanks for coming over. I’ll call you if I need anything.” Holding the door open, Stacey knew she had overstayed her welcome, and stepped through the door to the outside, smiling at Elizabeth.
“Okay. Just call me if you need to or need anyone to drive you anywhere.” Stacey left, and Elizabeth closed the door behind her.
Mrs. Deloris Green, director of the community supported Crisis Pregnancy Center, smiled a genuine, and loving smile as she said goodbye to the five older ladies, and young ladies who made up her weekly devotional she held. This devotion was for the center’s customers who were all single moms. Today she had two in their twenties, one in her thirties, and two teenagers, sixteen and eighteen. There were hugs all around as they said their goodbyes and went on their way.
“Mrs. Green, there is a call on the phone you may need to get. It is someone who thought they were calling an abortion clinic. I am scared she might hang up.” Mrs. Green’s volunteer office assistant interrupted as she was talking with one of the women leaving the devotional.
“Oh my! We can’t have that.” Mrs. Green quickly excused herself and ran to the phone on her desk, grabbing it from the cradle.
“Hello. This is Deloris Green. Can I help you?” she asked with love and sincerity in her voice.
“I… I … I am so sorry. I must have made a mistake and dialed the wrong number. I think the person answering the phone said this is the Crisis Pregnancy Center?” asked a very scared and soft voice on the other end of the phone.
“Yes, it is the Crisis Pregnancy Center, but I don’t think you made a mistake. Things have a way of happening to ensure we get exactly what we need when we find ourselves faced with a problem. I am glad you called. How can I help you today?”
The mothering and loving tone the lady had on the phone was enough to make the caller feel at ease. The number might have been wrong, but this woman was amazingly easy to speak with.
“I… I don’t really know.”
With this, the young girl on the other end of the phone started crying. Deloris could hear the sorrow in her voice, and the sobs through the phone line.
“Hey, hey, it’s alright. We don’t judge, and we don’t criticize here. We want to make you feel at ease and help you with any decisions you need to make. Is there anything I can do for you?”
“I… I just found out I am pregnant. I can’t have a baby… my parents …will be … so disappointed. I… don’t know what to do.” The tears and sniffling made the words difficult to understand.
“Honey, do you know where Maple Street is? I have time now, if you want to come see me, we can sit and talk. We can go over your options and find one that you will feel good about. Why don’t you tell me your name. Your appointment time will be whenever you can get here.”
Deloris’s heart was breaking. This girl was the reason she worked here. This girl, and everyone like her. She sounded like she had nothing she could do, no options. Deloris remembered the fear and loneliness she felt when she was seventeen, found herself facing the same dilemma, and felt that she had no one to go to for help. She made what she thought was the only choice she could, and now lives with the guilt every day.
Years ago, she pleaded with God to forgive her, until she heard a message at church, and realized that she was already forgiven. It took her a long time, but she finally forgave herself, and promised God she would help others in the same situation and let them see there are other alternatives.
That became her life mission and is what led her here to the center, and today to this phone call.
“Well, I don’t know.” The caller became quiet, and nervous.
Deloris was concerned that the girl would hang up, so she did the only thing she knew to do in these situations. She prayed quietly to herself before she uttered another word.
Lord, help me say the right thing to get this young girl in here. She needs what we can offer.Taking a deep breath Deloris continued.
“I understand how scared you are. Just come in and talk. You will be under no obligation. We can help you with whatever you decide, whether it’s to keep the baby, have an abortion, or even put the baby up for adoption. We are here to help, and to pray with you. What do you think?”
The girl on the other end felt a sense of peace come over her. “Okay. I’ll come in. I can leave now. It might take me about fifteen minutes or so to get there.”
“Great.” Deloris answered with love and relief. “Let me get your name, so we can be looking for you.”
“My name is Elizabeth. I’ll see you soon.”
