A Literal Pampering
Nae sat speechless, humbled, and nine months pregnant among a living room of strangers, surrounded by a total of 2000 diapers, clothes, and bottles for her unborn child. Reminiscent of a Christmas morning, mounds of tissue paper and gift bags cluttered her tired feet. She struggled to absorb the outpouring of love shown to her and her unborn daughter in this “pop up shower” given by the LifeBridge team and other women of StoneBridge.
God’s radical love for us is powerful and full of unconditional grace, and when we as believers naturally demonstrate that same love to others, it can be perplexing and hard to fathom! Nae, a mother who chose life through the care and compassion of Gate Pregnancy Center, experienced this love so powerfully last week, as she and her child were shown creative generosity and how StoneBridge is truly a house of refuge for mothers in crisis.
Ijaune ("Nae") went to Gate PRC scared, alone, and considering abortion. She was in an unplanned pregnancy, did not feel equipped to be a mom, and was desperate to find a way out. At Gate, she was welcomed, heard, encouraged, and loved with no judgment. The Lord was present and working in the appointment where she was given an ultrasound and able to see and marvel over the life growing in her womb. After a period of uncertainty and a few appointments, she declared she would carry this precious life. Through the resources, love, and prayer given to her by Gate, God empowered her to make this choice for her unborn child.
Despite her nervousness in this room of strangers, Nae vulnerably shared how God had provided for her after a year of homelessness. Already a mother of five children and fighting a contentious custody battle, she perseveres daily, working a full-time job while also tirelessly seeking a more permanent and adequate housing situation—one that DSS finds acceptable for a home for her other children.
Love and laughter filled the room in the form of pink festive decorations, punch, cake, and cookies. Conversation flowed, as each lady there was a mother and could relate to the joys and discomforts of pregnancy. As the evening wore on, I believe Nae became more radiant and comfortable in her surroundings. In the beginning, she confessed that when she was asked if LifeBridge could throw her a shower, she said, “but why would these strangers want to do that for me?” I believe by the end of night, she grasped and understood that we were the ones who were also blessed by her willingness to allow us this honor.
Not only has Nae chosen life, she has chosen to trust God daily, sometimes hourly, to provide, and her faith has grown tremendously. In response to all the help she has received from Gate in the form of emotional and medical support and parenting classes (Earn While You Learn Program which earns points for shopping in the Gate boutique), she has been inspired to design pro-life t-shirts. She has publicly given her testimony to help other women choose life and has dreams of starting her own business to help women in need.
StoneBridge has embraced its commitment to be a House of Refuge, a safe place for those facing unplanned pregnancies or who have experienced the trauma of abortion. In our church, these women can receive the help they need without any shame or condemnation. Isn’t this how Christ sees us when we surrender our lives to Him? May we constantly be humbled by our identity as his children and turn that towards loving more mothers in crisis, demonstrating his lavish love for us.
