They are Precious in His Sight
“I—I’m…” she said with a look of pain and tears pouring down her bluish eyes.
She was unwilling to look at me, as if a feeling of shame took over, paralyzing her.
But she fought her hesitation. She needed to let the words out so she continued, “I’m…I’m preg-nant. I just got off the phone with my the doctor’s office. The tests were positive. I’m pregnant.”
My jaw dropped. This wasn’t what I expected to hear. Pregnant? Sure, I was happy for her, but I barely knew her. Why would she tell me? I didn’t know what to say—I was only nineteen-years-old. What do I know about pregnancies? I mean babies are cute and adorable when they look at you with their eyes. But when they projectile vomit or poop everywhere, that cuteness sort of fades away. Great, so this is what I got myself into. I just had to pick today of all days to go out and take a risk. I was freaking out and I wasn’t even the father of this life that had already started growing in her—my classmate. Sure, I had prayed for God to “use” me, but this wasn’t exactly what I had in mind. I was hoping for something less awkward, more comfortable, and more manly situations. Yes, that would be right up my alley, NOT pregnancies. Little did I know that God was answering my prayers—He was using me, He wanted me to be there at that exact moment, and it was right up my alley. But the choice of obedience—whether to stay and listen or to run for the hills, all that was left up to me.
I saw my classmate Laura (we’ll just call her that) sitting on a concrete bench a few yards in front of the Shatford Library in Pasadena City College (PCC). Sometimes, when I walked to my next class, I could see her studying cheerfully in a world of her own, lost in her textbooks at that spot with her blonde hair tied into a ponytail. She was quite the student and brilliant in our philosophy classes, especially when it came to debates. It was in these class debates against her that I learned she was agnostic. But other than that, I really didn’t know anything about her. It wasn’t like we formed some kind of bond or talked outside of class. Back then, I had only a one-track mind when it came to community college: 1. Go to school. 2. Transfer to a university. 3. And get the heck out of PCC as fast as I can. There really wasn’t room for making friends, but if I did, then that was fine. After all, community college was a transitionary period—how important were friendships made there anyway? Boy did I have it all wrong and God wanted to school me.
You see, that day was different. I saw Laura in the same spot as always as I headed to my next class, but I noticed her books were still in her bag placed on the floor. That was odd. And instead of seeing a radiant smile, I saw a face swollen from crying with more tears on their way down her face. I wanted to look away and go straight to my class. So I did just that, turning up the volume on my iPod. After all, it wasn’t my business. It’s not like she was my friend. However, as I walked away, I felt something tugging at my heart. No God, I just want to go to class. I know what You want me to do. Just leave me alone! I continued walking and as I was about to open the door of the building in which my class was in, I felt a stronger tugging at my heart. It just wouldn’t go away. I stopped in my place, taking my hand off the door handle. Love at all times. Whom shall I send to love? I have sent for you to love. Go! I turned back and took a risk, a step out of my comfort zone, a step towards loving others…[click “Read More” below to continue]
