Something Worth Remembering
By Tricia Goyer
 For years, I had a memory problem. As a young mom my problem was self-induced. You see, I was doing well in life. I was married to a great guy, was involved in a good church, had surrounded myself with faithful friends, and was even fulfilling my dream of seeing my words in print. It seemed only natural to want to forget my teen years. To pretend they never happened. To blank out that time period when . . . (I was trying to forget, remember?)
Though I didn't speak of those days past, I really didn't forget. How could I when I had a son as a reminder of my teenage pregnancy? He was something beautiful that came out of pretty tough times.
But there was someone else who didn't forget. God was there during the dark times. He was there when I dropped out of regular high school so I didn't have to see my old boyfriend with his new girlfriend. He was there when I felt my life was over, when I just wanted to stay in bed and sleep all day. He was also there when, at six month's pregnant, I wrapped my arms around my expanding stomach and asked Jesus to "please fix my screwed up life."
Of course, there were others who found out about my teenage pregnancy despite my silence. Like my pastor. As my birthday neared one year I could see his mind calculating . . . If Tricia's turning twenty-five, and Cory is eight. Well, that would have make her 17?!
Once my pastor knew, God used him to help me stop faking my memory problem. The two teamed up – Pastor Dan and God – and both prodded me to help those facing the same struggles I once did. The result was Hope Pregnancy Center.
I was one of the three founders of this amazing ministry. After that I started working with teen moms through a program called Teen MOPS.
But God wasn't finished with me yet, and he gave me the idea for a parenting book for young moms facing the same struggles I went through. And Life Interrupted: The Scoop on Being a Young Mom was born.
The goal of the book is to provide encouragement to young moms and remind them, "You can do it. You matter!"
You see, when it comes to our changed hearts, God is more into remembering than forgetting. He wants us to remember how he helped us. He wants us to tell of the power and the miracles he did in our lives.
Psalms 78:4 says, "We will not hide these truths . . . but will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord. We will tell of his power and the mighty miracles he did."
Guess what? You're part of that next generation I'm shouting it out to! God transformed my life from a beaten-down, teary-eyed teen to someone who can write books for him. That's something worth remembering!
Click Here to find out more about Teen MOPS and how you can get involved!
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