It was August before my senior year and I was well on my way to pursuing my dreams. I was quite proud that I would be graduating soon and would be only the second person in my family to attend college. I discovered my passion to invest in and educate young kids while enrolled in childcare classes through a vocational program offered at my high school. A degree in Business would prepare me for launching and running my very own after school program.
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Suddenly my dreams came to a screeching halt when I learned that I was pregnant with my daughter, Mya. My boyfriend and I had been careless and I now had to consider what all of this meant for my future. Was I ready to become a mother? Could I still pursue my dreams? How could I finish high school, attend college and raise a child? All of these thoughts came flooding in and I was overwhelmed. I was now faced with the toughest decision of my life and I was most disappointed in myself. Just a young girl who could barely care for myself, I was afraid. Now the life of another totally dependent human being would be my responsibility. My dreams and ambitions would now be set aside to look after the needs of another. Going out and having fun with my friends and having a little extra money to pursue the things that I enjoyed would no longer be possible. I saw the life that I wanted come to an end as the life of the little one growing inside of me would demand all of my attention and devotion.
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At the time of my pregnancy, I was living at home with my mother, my brother, and my sister who was divorced with two kids. I was fortunate that I had the option of living at home and receiving help from my family. However, faced with the choices that I had made and the responsibilities that I would now have, I decided to leave home and get an apartment with my boyfriend. Determined to finish school, I started my senior year. On April 27, not long after my 18th birthday, my joy…my beautiful Mya was born. A couple of months later, I graduated from high school.
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Years later, I consider this pivotal time in my life—the choices I faced, the struggles that I endured, and ultimately the blessing that is now my precious daughter who is a healthy and well educated professional pursuing her dreams. Not everything in my life has been ideal, but I have a good life and I have been able to work with kids as I desired. I think of young girls today who are faced with decisions similar to the ones I faced. Many lack the support and resources that I was fortunate to have and think that their only viable choice is to end the life of their unborn child. My heart breaks for them and I wish that I could let them know that everything will be okay…that they can have their baby and still enjoy a beautiful life.
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Over the years, God birthed a new dream in my heart! He has given me a passion to help young girls facing tough decisions with an unexpected pregnancy in real tangible ways...during a time filled with so much confusion...and so many opinions. As a single mother, it was hard to see how all of this would come to pass. That was until I met and married my husband, Al. God had been stirring something in his heart as well and just as He joined us together, he united our hearts in this vision that is now Glory House, a place where hope lives!
Walking with my eyes up and my heart open,
Roseann Deeb
Co-founder of Glory House
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