So, my writing is beginning to get somewhere. I mean, it's a small somewhere, but I have a feeling that God can use it to make a big impact for His glory.
My last story (for ICL) I wrote was called "Ada's Story," a story focused on pro-life, and though my professor wasn't as sure it would really make any headway in the wide-world of publishing, I took the chance and sent it to several different people, who might be able to use it for their ministry. I sent it off to
Regular Baptist Press,
The Baptist Bulletin,
Baptists for Life,
Steve Deace and the
Alpha Women's Center in Des Moines. The Alpha Women's Center has already expressed definite interest in using it.
I have been intrigued by the pro-life ministry since I was saved at the age of 16. I started my journey by doing a persuasive speech my Junior year. Now, I am hoping to impact this generation for life and for Jesus with the writing skills God has given me.
Depending on the interest it generates, I may even get it copyrighted, which surprisingly only costs $35. But, for now, enjoy and reflect. God is good. Life is good.
"I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well." Psalm 139:14
Ada’s Story
By Sarah Engle
May 21
Today is my first day of life. I am sure I am going to be a girl. My eyes will be a calming green, and my hair – a full array of blondes and browns. Someday I will grow it long and put in up in braids and weave it around my head. Only nine months to go, and I will meet my family and show them all how I am wonderfully made! I especially can’t wait to meet my mother – to see how much I may look like her.
June 11
I know I am small now. But I have such potential. I may be a speck of life in a big world, but I am life nonetheless. I can feel the little flutter, flutter of my heart as it begins to beat!
July 9
Ooo! Aah! Oh, the shapes I can make with my mouth as it develops! Soon, I will be able to tell my mother that I love her. And my arms! They are forming into such beautiful arms!
I am growing so fast and today my mother and father discovered that I am coming! They must be planning a big to-do for my arrival. It will be my first birthday ever!
Aleine walked down the rigid and dimly-lit hallway of the clinic – Christian by her side. He reached for her hand, but she pulled it away and crossed her arms over her stomach. Doctors and nurses walked briskly by them, eyes focused on charts and patients. Aleine and Christian’s pace slowed as they reached the elevator. Christian said that it had been a long day. He hoped Aleine would get some rest tonight.
July 14
Wow! I can move! What a wonderful feeling! I doubt my mother can feel me moving around yet. I’m still just tiny- only 1/8” long, but many of my organs are developing so well! I have a feeling I am going to be a strong and healthy child. I will be able to play tag with my siblings and give my father great big bear hugs! Oh, we will have so much fun!
Christian and Aleine were standing on the bridge by the lake where they first met. He tried telling her that it didn’t matter that she was only 16. People weren’t going to be as hard on her as she might think. Christian’s words only seemed to make Aleine more upset. Frustrated, she flung up her hands and walked back toward the car. Tears filled her eyes. She glanced back in the direction of Christian, only to find him sitting on the bench that lined the bridge, head in his hands. She told him to stop crying; she would think more about it. She told him that she would tell her parents that night, and maybe they would help her to know what to do.
August 13
Hmmm. I never knew how much I’d like to stick this little part of my hand in my mouth. It’s comforting. I can feel my body become stronger, and I have ribs now to protect my heart and lungs. So I think it’s safe to move around a little more. I want my mother to feel me and be able to know that I am O.K. Once she can feel me, maybe she will show father how I move and move and move. I’m sure he will be able to see my feet stretch and make little bulges in Mother’s tummy. Oh, how funny that will be! But, that won’t be for quite some time. So, I will have to keep on growing!
Aleine sat on the edge of the couch, her mother‘s arms wrapped around her. She said that Aleine would learn from this mistake; she just knew her daughter would be a better girl from now on. With angry eyes, her father paced. His hands were balled up into fists. Aleine asked if he was going to hurt Christian. He said he wouldn’t; he was thinking of a solution that would be best for everyone. But, Aleine cried anyway. Very hard. Her father paced and paced and paced.
September 5
Oh, my eyes! They are becoming more sensitive to the light now. I can tell when mother turns off the light to go to bed and when we step outside in the morning.
Now I can frown and smile and be as expressive as I feel. I also get the hiccups a lot and I think Mother can tell because she puts her hands on her belly to calm me down. But, it never works. She ends up getting the hiccups, too!
Christian followed Aleine into the clinic. He told her he had given up. She could do whatever she wanted with her body. It was hers to do with as she pleased. But Aleine became more enraged at his words. She told him she didn’t need a guilt-trip and that her mind was already made up.
September 19
I can hear now. My favorite thing to listen to is my mother’s heartbeat. It is so strong. I will grow up to be like her someday. Strong and loving. I know she loves me, because I am kept safe inside of her.
She is talking to me, I think. And I hear a lower voice – my father’s. I bet they are trying to think of the perfect name for me. I hope they call me Ada. It has such a pretty sound to it.
Aleine was alone today. Christian had refused to come to the appointment. She flipped through magazines in the waiting room. A woman with black hair and a quick pace stepped out of the office. Aleine asked her if the procedure would be painful. The woman told her it would feel like getting a tooth pulled and that would be it. Aleine asked if the baby would feel it, too. The woman assured her that, at this point, it was just blob of tissue.
I hear other voices that are not my mother’s or father’s. I can hear my mother’s heartbeat getting faster. I have never heard this thump, thump, thumping before. I hope that she is safe. Ouch! I feel a twinge of searing pain on my body and in my mouth. It is hot and burning and I feel as if I can’t breathe. My lungs are burning. My fragile skin is disappearing, and my body is becoming limp. Mother! Please, please help me! I want to see you! I want you to hold me and protect me!
Mother, I want to know…what…it’s like…to be…alive.
Good stuff, I say. Good stuff. And it's been only 1 1/2 weeks since I began my reading quest. Quite remarkable how close we are to what we call history...how close we can be to the people who experienced it. They are still alive, some of them - living their story - reminding us of our blessings and freedoms. Wow. I wonder how God is going to use this in my life...I mean, right now, he is by reminding me of His all-sufficient grace through it all. I'm reminded how we are all sinners (whatever the sin - great or small - they're all condemning) and it's the same God of mercy that offers salvation to us all. I'm so thankful for that. So thankful. And for anyone who thinks "There's no way God could forgive me...I've done so much...so many terrible things..." Well, just look at what he did for the Apostle Paul...who called himself the "greatest sinner." God gave him salvation...faith to believe. God gave him a place in ministry...appointed him to serve. We have a wonderful God and I step back and say "Thank you, Father...for saving even me."
