Abstinence –
The only Choice
No teenager could possibly realize
the responsibilities and difficulties
that surround a teenage pregnancy,
unless you’ve walked in those
shoes. You cannot begin to imagine
all the things that you would miss
out on, being a teenage parent.
The expense involved in having
a child at a young age are overwhelming.
Many people; including classmates
make fun of the situation. Having
a baby in high school is also risking
your education and future. Sometimes
it takes hearing information like
this from another teenager instead
of parents and teachers to make
other teens stop and think of the
consequences that lie ahead.
One quick decision for a few minutes
of pleasure is surely not worth
all the pain. Take it from someone
who knows! I have been down the
wrong path and paid dearly for my
actions. I am eighteen years old
and I have a six month old named
Gracie. Though this little girl
means the world to me, if I had
it all to do over again she would
not have been born until after I
had finished school and earned a
good college education for both
of us. If I would have just chosen
abstinence before marriage, then
I would be able to concentrate my
attention on getting an education
and doing my best. I stayed in school,
but it has been a struggle to do
so. A baby cannot wait while you
study or do homework. Also, juggling
the extra demands of a part time
job to support your child.
You would not believe the expense
involved in raising a child. On
an average, a child’s first
year costs $10,000. Tell me what
average teenager can afford these
expenses while still attending school
and making passing grades. Cribs,
bottles, diapers, formula, clothing,
toys, and daycare are all very costly
needed materials for a baby. After
working all night or weekend earning
money you then are too tired to
go to school the next day, not to
mention bathing and feeding the
baby and packing for the daycare
each day.
When you choose to have sex then
your also choosing to contract sexual
diseases that you may possibly get
from your sexual partner. You never
know for sure who that person has
been with before you. Diseases like
Aids and HIV are something you can’t
get rid of; You have to live with
it the rest of your life. You will
also eventually die from it, all
because you decided to have sex.
Peer pressure is probably the biggest
leading cause for teenage pregnancy
or not choosing abstinence. When
a guy or girl says, “I Love
you,” that does not mean they
know what they are talking about.
At such a young age you are not
as receptive of things that could
harm you than you would be if you
were an adult. Before having sex
with anyone you need to be married
to and have a commitment to that
person. You need to be sure that
they really love you for who you
are and not just because of what
you’ve got. People will tell
you anything or make you feel a
certain way about yourself to get
their way. You have to be smarter
than that and take control of your
own body and learn to tell someone
“NO.”
Constantly remind yourself that
you are worth more – worth
waiting for. Even if you have been
with the same person for a number
of years, it is still not necessary
until you are married. It only takes
once to get pregnant.
Being pregnant will also eliminate
you from doing fun things with your
friends like roller skating, riding
rides at the fair, skiing, taking
dance classes, cheer leading or
many, many other things! Your senior
year should be the funnest year
of them all but instead of planning
and preparing for graduation I am
planning for a baby too. I never
had the chance to be on my own and
explore the world by myself after
high school. I had to start the
rest of my life early. That is another
reason abstinence is so important.
The stares and jestures and remarks
or insults that are made at you
for being pregnant while your at
school are no fun. People could
care less how you feel or what you
may be going through while they
laugh and crack jokes behind your
back. Although you may have chosen
life for your unborn child, others
may not agree. You will find out
who really cares and who your true
friends are during this time of
your life. Some friends stuck closer
to me than ever before and I had
unfaithful friends who up and left
and didn’t want to be seen
near me. Abstinence is the best
choice.
If you give yourself away before
marriage, then what will you have
to give to your future husband or
wife? Your relationship will mean
much more to both of you if you
remain abstinent and wait until
marriage for sex. Saving your body
for the right man or woman is the
best gift you can give your mate.
If you already gave yourself away
it’s like telling the right
one that they were not worth waiting
for. It’s like choosing from
a closet full of brand new clothes
vs. a closet full of used clothes.
Which one would you choose?
Another negative result of having
a baby as a teen would be in many
cases that the child would not have
two full time parents. It is not
fair to a young infant to be divided
between two separate families; A
child does not understand. Baby’s
cannot easily get use to change
and they should not have to. If
Abstinence were used in this situation
then the baby would not have to
suffer and be caught in the middle
of it all. Children cannot deal
with separation like adults can.
A child should not have to be punished
on the count of it’s parents
decisions. A baby that is brought
up with two parents that are together
– in most cases, makes for
a stronger, happier child.
When you make the decision to have
sex as a teenager you are not only
hurting yourself but hurting your
family. When your parents have such
high hopes and dreams for you all
the years that you have grown up
in front of them, and then it all
comes crashing down an them at one
time. Your future has been the most
important thing to them ever since
you were born and when they find
out that your pregnant they think
you have almost ruined the rest
of your life. During this hard time
for our family my parents were extremely
supportive and encouraging.
Parents endure a lot more than
one may realize. It is like taking
a dagger straight to their heart.
My parents were deeply hurt and
it’s something that takes
time to heal. When choosing sex
you have to think about others that
will be hurt.
I feel that if you made the wise
choice not to have sex as a teenager,
you are to be admired for not going
along with what everyone else around
you does. If you already have had
sex, then it is not too late to
make for yourself a fresh start,
and begin being abstinent right
now!! If you have been pushed into
doing something that you are not
comfortable with, or does not feel
tight, then more than likely your
feelings are right. Abstinence is
the ultimate key to a successful,
happy, healthy and prosperous life.
It is not too late. Be strong. Make
the right choice now! Proverbs 5:15-21
teaches us that sex is God’s
gift to married people. Proverbs
6:23-35 also teaches that sex outside
of marriage is foolish. God’s
word is the very best advice you
will receive. Sex is honorable and
pure within the unity of marriage
to one person. (Hebrews 13:4) Why
then must you not choose abstinence?
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