How To Survive Your Teen's Pregnancy by Linda Ellen Perry and Lynellen Perry

In our community, a young lady did not survive a pregnancy. It still breaks the hearts of the townspeople, her classmates, and her family.

I've waited to post this because I felt her family needed a little time to get past the loss. But I think it is an important book for parents of teens.

So often, we think we need to make our children's lives more perfect than ours have been. But we forget that God uses broken vessels and all the brokenness in our lives to create something beautiful. He doesn't leave us to wallow in our disasters. We can do that just fine ourselves.

Instead, God comes to us, meets us in our difficulties and then shows us the way through them. Not so we can be "survivors." A new friend pointed that out to me the other day. But so that we can live every day, in that day, feeling that life and then reach out to grasp another hand in need.

Sometimes we see a problem through a microscope. We need a little help stepping back to get a bigger focus.

I think that's what this book does. I think it's a good tool to put on our shelves, in our churches, and in the hands of our counselors so that when someone in our community is affected with teen pregnancy, the tool is right at hand.

The authors take time to delve into the emotions surrounding a teen pregnancy. They help break down the walls between a hurting young person and a hurting parent.

I also think this book would be a great Bible study for any outreach ministry, adult study, and church ministerial planning. Of course, it's also perfect for the parents in need of support in the midst of unplanned turmoil.

How To Survive Your Teen's Pregnancy will help ground anyone in relational connection versus damaged hearts that take so long to heal.

I think it is better to consider how we might respond than to wait and react. No one wants to believe or think that their child might face this circumstance. But being open-minded enough to prevent harmful reactive behavior might be insurance well purchased for the same price as a fast food meal for two.

So what if you never have to use it yourself? Wouldn't it be nice to have a resource to draw on should someone else need it?

I simply like the idea of growing more empathetic toward others by being aware of painful situations and having some possible tools to offer.

I invite you to read How to Survive Your Teen's Pregnancy in case you might need to help someone else. Now you will know how. It is published by Chalfont House. You can find it at www.ChalfontHouse.com

God Bless,
Angie
PS Please visit me over at Writer's Rest every Sunday :-)