Sometime yesterday in the middle of a hurricane most of us heard the news about Bristol Palin, daughter of John McCain's VP pick Sarah Palin. The picture on the left is of Bristol holding her baby brother Trig. Bristol, who is 17 years old, is now five months pregnant. Some people feel that this is a disgrace to the Palin family. I disagree.
The sad truth is that teen pregnancy in America is not rare at all. We are living in a culture that glamorizes sexual immorality, and no one is more drawn to glamorous things than teenagers. Teenagers of all races and religious backgrounds are giving in to temptation and finding themselves with unplanned pregnancies.
The even sadder truth, however, is that only the workers at abortion clinics understand just how common teen pregnancies really are. The option of abortion is an attractive one to these girls and their families. All they have to do is end the pregnancy and forget anything ever happened. No shame, no gossip, no responsibility. That is why we never learn about the majority of teen pregnancies. This is true even in churches. I heard someone say that the doors of abortion clinics are kept open by Baptist deacons who take their daughters across state lines under the cover of night. This is more true than we realize.
Knowing the horrific truth about the unborn children who are killed every day to preserve their familys' pride and comfort, I can't help but to respect young women like Bristol Palin who decide to grant life to their sons and daughters. This is not to say that I condone the behavior that got Bristol into this situation in the first place, but I'm sure she has already shed enough tears over what has happened that she does not need to hear a lecture from someone like me at this point. From the perspective that every life is precious in the eyes of God and in light of the grim reality of the decision that most teen mothers make, I rejoice with the Palins as they welcome a new child to their family.
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