You Don't Know Her

That single, teenage mother in the corner of your church, your classroom, etc? You don't know her.

You don't know that she's seen more life than either of us will ever see.

You don't know that she's fought to have a good  life for her child.

You don't know that she works hard, very hard, to keep her grades up so she can have a chance at college and give her child a better life.

You don't know that she gets upset, just like any other person, when people write her off. 

She is a person. She loves. She's been hurt. She's been knocked down, and she's gotten back up.

It's not your place to judge her. It's not your place to keep bashing her because you don't agree with something that happened in her past. 

It's your place to build her up. To equip her to face a future that's not going to be easy. To encourage her walk with Christ. 

Teachers, Youth Leaders, everyone, when we're gifted with teenage mothers in our rooms and classes, we're given a gift. They have the ability to reach more kids than we ever will, and teach us things that we'll never learn otherwise. Their value is immeasurable. Their insight is invaluable. Don't take them for granted. And for the sake of all things holy, DON'T TEAR THEM DOWN.