GROWING UP
A STORY FOR TEENAGE GIRLS

By Stacy Book

Has  there ever been a time when you feel like your life drastically changed in a moment?  I’m sure it has sometime or another.  I felt like mine did at the age of 16.  About 2 months after I  turned 16, I found out I was pregnant.  What was I to do?  I felt like my life was over.  My mom and dad are going to kill me.  They are going to hate me.  What’s everyone going to think of me?  I was the shy, quiet  little girl that no one would ever believe was pregnant.  How am I going to raise a baby being so young?  What do I do?  So many questions.  Now, at the age of 35, as I look back, I see that – In all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.  Romans 8:28

     I was saved at the age of seven.  I grew up in a loving, stable home.  I have parents who love each other and have been married 39 years today- as I am writing.  I was brought up in a home where we went to church every Sunday morning, every Sunday night and every Wednesday night.  My mom and dad made God first priority in their life, and still do, and serves God with the gifts he has given them and they use them very well.  My dad was a deacon and a Sunday School teacher.  Oh, how I hated that sometimes because his class of boys and the class I was in of girls were together for the first part of Sunday School and he would always ask me questions to see if I studied my lesson.  I don’t think I ever knew many answers.  Sorry daddy, I’m learning now.  He did so much more and put all his energy into what he did, whether it’s fixing something at home or working at his job.  Whatever it is, it gets done and it gets done right.  It has to be perfect.  He works very hard and does the best he can.  He’s retiring next year and I know he will be missed because he was the best.  He likes to stay on a routine schedule- and I mean routine, sometimes to the minute.  Sometimes we can tell you what he’s doing even when we’re not with him.  I’m more like my dad.  We’re both quiet.  We usually can’t even hear each other talk.  I love him very much and I wouldn’t want anyone else for a dad.  Now my mom- she’s not quiet.  You can hear her a mile down the road.  But I love her and I couldn’t make it without her.  She’s always been there for me, especially when I have those stupid questions I wouldn’t ask anyone else.  I know she won’t laugh at me-at least not in front of me.  My mom loves children.  She worked at a church day care for 18 years-until they shut down.  She touched so many children’s lives.  So many of the kids now who are grown still remember her and were very blessed to have her as their teacher.  She was a preschool director at our church and did a great job.  She was always putting bulletin boards up for everyone to enjoy looking at.  She enjoyed going to her Baptists Young Women’s meetings.  I also remember going with her after church to deliver tapes of the church service to the elderly people who couldn’t get out.  She’s always laughing and bubbling with joy and excitement.  Growing up, my mom and dad were always  there for me.  My mom always had supper ready when my dad got home from work, and it was the exact same time everyday.  I was a picky eater.  I hated vegetables, especially mashed potatoes.  To this day, I still won’t eat them.  My dad can tell you why.  But you wouldn’t know it now.  We have a garden and I love eating vegetables now-except mashed potatoes.  After supper, we would always go the family room, get on the couch and we would all read the Bible, hold hands and my mom and dad would take turns praying.  I never looked forward to that, especially if it interrupted play time.  Oh, and I really didn’t like it when friends came over.  How embarrassing!  But we did it anyway.  Now, as I look back, I’m glad they did.  Growing up as kids, you always think you know everything and your parents know NOTHING!  I would always say that whenever I have kids, I’ll let them do whatever they want.  Well, that changes after you have kids.  My mom has always been a worrier.  She worries about everything.  After I had kids, I see where it’s hard not to worry a little bit.  A verse in the bible that always helps me is Philippians 4:6-7  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God, and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

     My mom and dad tried to make my childhood a happy one.  They made me feel loved and secure.  I also remember when I started getting an allowance.  My dad would always pay me at the end of the week.  But when he gave it to me, he taught me the importance of tithing.  I wasn’t too enthused about it, but I did it anyway.  Again, I’m glad he did.  I also remember how I wanted the bedroom by the family room.  It was the biggest room.  They finally gave it to me.  I was so happy.  I kept my room spotless.  I didn’t want anyone touching anything, and most of all, I didn’t want my “monkey face” brother stepping foot in it.  Oh yeah, I haven’t mentioned my brother.  I was so mean to him.  I don’t know why, but I was.  I was always getting him into trouble.  He never did anything to me.  He would even try to do things for me and be nice and I was still mean.  He put up with a lot with his big sister.  I’ll never forget – one time he got in trouble.  I don’t know what he did, but he screamed back at my dad.  He was sitting on the dining room floor.  I even remember what he was wearing-blue jean overalls.  I knew he was in for it then.  When we got in trouble, we got spanked-unlike today.  All my dad had to do was give us the look or my mom saying, “Just wait ‘till your daddy gets home.”  We didn’t like the discipline then, but again- I’m glad we were.  The bible says- Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.  Proverbs 22:6.  It also says,  Do not withhold discipline from a child; if  you punish him with the rod, he will not die.  Proverbs 23:13.  Back to my brother- We are very close now.  I couldn’t ask for a better brother.  He’s married now and has 2 children.  His wife is great.  She’s so much fun to talk to.  I love them both so much.  Their kids, Ethan-age 4 and Allee- age 1 are so much fun.  I wish we were closer so we could see them more.  They live in Campbellsville.  They both love the Lord and serve Him in a lot of ways.  They teach their kids about God and are showing them how God wants them to love and obey Him.  I know they are being raised to love him and live for him. 

     Getting back to age 16, I was pregnant and afraid.  I knew for sure I was on a Sunday morning.  I stayed all night with a friend and took a pregnancy test.  Yes, I was definitely pregnant.  I went to church and during Sunday School I asked my youth minister if I could talk to him.  So I took my best friend with me and the 3 of us stood on the stairs the whole hour.  He stood there patiently waiting for me to talk.  I finally told him.  It was hard, but I did it.  I had the best youth minister.  He did so much for us.  We could talk to him about anything.  If we had a problem, he took the time to help us.  He was involved in all of our lives and kept us busy all the time.  We didn’t have much time to get into trouble.  My brother always said he was going to be just like him- and he did.  He’s a youth minister and an ordained minister.  So when it was time to tell my mom and dad, I was scared to death.  I told my mom first.  That was scary, but not as scary as telling my daddy.  I’m my daddy’s little girl.  How can I tell him that his little girl is pregnant?  I didn’t know how he would react.  Would he kick me out?  Would he ground me for life?  At the time, I was never more scared than I was then.  So when I finally told him, I couldn’t believe his reaction.  He never yelled.  He stayed calm.  He went to his room for a while and then came to talk to me.  We sat on the couch for a few minutes.  I was so amazed and shocked.  They both reacted differently that I expected.  As much as I hurt them, they still loved me and stood by me through it all.  Just as God loves his children, not for what they do, but because of who they are, my mom and dad did the same.  Knowing they were there for me made things so much better.  I know I did wrong.  I was sorry for the sins in my life.  I prayed and asked God to forgive me.  I rededicated my life one Sunday morning and made things right with God.  With God’s help, my families help, my church families help, I made it through.  My church gave me a baby shower and I had so many people there.  I had a truck load of baby stuff to take home.  Everyone was so good to me and treated me the same as they always had.  On April 24, 1989, I had a healthy baby boy.  I lived with my mom and dad.  They were very proud of their new grandson.  They helped me out so much.  I went on homebound to finish my junior year.  I didn’t go to school my senior year.  I took a class at home and went to summer school so I could graduate.  I went to college for 2  years and got a degree- but I never used it.  I babysitted and cleaned houses.  After a couple of years, I met my husband – who I’ve been married to for 15 years now.  My little baby boy is 18 years old now.  He is working and going to college this fall.  My husband and I have another son.  He is 13 and taller than I am.  I wouldn’t be where I am today without God.  I’m his child and I know he will never leave me.  I wouldn’t be where I am today without my mom and dad either- who cared enough to raise their children in the upbringing of the Lord.  My mom and dad are still here for me when I need them.  They helped us when we have moved.  My dad made sure we had electricity- that’s what he does- and anything else we needed.  My mom made sure we had food- She’s always giving us food.  She’s always there for me.  At the age of 21, I really started growing in my relationship with the Lord.  I never really felt that growing up.  I  prayed and went to church.  I guess it was more head knowledge than a relationship.  As I get older, my relationship with the Lord gets stronger all the time.  I’ve got the best church family.  I teach the younger kids in Sunday School.  I help with the teenagers.  I’m involved with outreach.  I love to help people.  Serving the Lord is such a great privilege.  There’s been a lot of rough times through the years, but with God’s help, he can get you through ANYTHING.  I’m not perfect- no one is.  I make plenty of mistakes-everyday.  Thank God he forgives.  Spending time with God everyday is so important.  Reading his Word, praying and listening to Him speak to you should be a priority in everyone’s life.  Without God, we are NOTHING.  God can do the impossible.  He is in control.  What we can’t do on our own-HE CAN!

     I pray that I can always be there for my mom and dad – just like they are always there for my grandparents now.  They take very good care of them.  I don’t know what they would do without them.  Ephesians 6:2 says- Honor your father and mother.  “This is the first commandment with a promise, “that it may go well with you and you will have long life on earth.”