YOU'RE WORTH LOVING JUST THE WAY YOU ARE

By Kevin Kenny

A lot of pregnant teenagers and young mothers with their babies turn to Covenant House for help. Some of these girls are forced to leave home because some of the parents don't want to forgive them....Some are forced to leave because their families just can't afford another mouth to feed.

Letitia was sitting at a table near a window. Letitia, knowing how to knit, said, without looking up, "After a year and a half with this baby, I'm all tired out. I should have stayed down in North Carolina. Maybe my mother would have helped." Shaking her head she continued, "What am I saying? She wouldn't help. My mother -- she never cared about me. She's got her own problems. She's one of the reasons why I had the baby. I figured I'd have somebody in my life I could love and somebody who would really love me."

"What about school...and the friends you hung around with? Didn't they add something to your life?" "School was the pits for me. I didn't have any real friends. I always felt left out. The only time boys were interested in me was for sex. I could tell they didn't really like me as a friend and weren't serious about me.

"Don't get me wrong now. I do love my baby. I love her-- but she sure be getting to me lately." "Whether you have a baby or not, Letitia, you are a very lovable person by yourself," said Sister. I love you, and Father Kevin loves you, and God loves you more than you know. He tells us that even if a mother forgets to love her child, He will never forget us. It helps us to remember this at times when we don't feel too much appreciated, yah?'

You're right, Sister. I should not be so down on myself. I have a lot to look forward to, and a lot of growing up to do, too."

Don't let yourself be deceived by the values of this world. Letitia did and ended up losing her childhood too soon, and she's saddled up with the burdens of a grownup. Sure, a baby is a wonderful gift from God, but parents should be ready and willing to take on a lot of hard work to raise a child. Young people like you are simply unprepared for getting involved in all that. I hope you can be satisfied with enjoying school and your friends no matter how boring and immature they may seem to be at times. Don't try to grow up too fast. take it slow.

Also, accept yourself for who you are. Just because you don't have a perfect family situation...it doesn't mean that you should be irresponsible like Letitia. Just about everybody one time or another feels unloved. You have got to know yourself, and in doing that you'll understand the reason why God has put you on earth. [God loves you]...He does have something in mind for you to do, and He does want you to be happy.

I'm sure you know well that very few people today want to see teenagers get pregnant. [But] teenage pregnancies have increased tremendously because most kids today have been taught that sex is something you do when you like another person. It's something you do on a date. It has very little to do with being faithful to the one you love, with marriage, or with raising a family. No wonder a lot of kids get confused and get into trouble.

Some people claim that teenage pregnancies are due to lack of enough sex education in our schools. But it's becoming more and more obvious that sexual information without morality increases teenage sexual activity and, therefore, unplanned, unwanted pregnancies. You don't have to be a genius to figure that out.

Sent by Joe Gatuslao

PRAYER

"Lord, inflame my heart with your love and make me clean. May I never cease to tell others of your love and mercy."