Dear Daughter,

Thank you for your note. I am glad to hear you say God is providing abundantly for you. He is like that.

Sometimes it is hard for us to distinguish abundance from survival, depending on how tough the circumstances are.

I am honored that you ask me to say what I would do if I were you, whether to keep or adopt the baby you are expecting. I will try.

I believe God would like to provide abundantly for your baby. In His economy one parent is not abundance. The minimum, usually, is two parents. I always appreciated His kindness to Mothers, that Fathers share the burdens of family life. I know you want to continue school. Do you remember, not too many years ago, how your new baby brother absorbed most of the physical energy, time and attention I had to give?

Your baby was conceived outside of God's expected timetable for you both, but that does not mean your lives must continue out of order.

There is a beautiful couple out there whose heart's desire would be to raise your baby in a comfortable home with the privileges and advantages that you had. Perhaps they are praying for this miracle. It is within your power to allow God to provide abundantly for them, and at the same time give your baby something you cannot, a secure home with two parents.

The decision must be yours alone, but this is my honest understanding. I believe you would one day rejoice to know you made the decision unselfishly, putting your baby's needs first. And I must admit, it is no small sacrifice for me to relinquish my first grandchild.

Abundance for you will include an education to ready you for life, a husband who will adore you, and a lovely bunch of children born when you have the other parts of your life ready to receive them.

I know this response to your question is right "up-front." You are a writer and know what it is to lie awake, re-thinking ideas and experience until there is nothing to do but get up and get to the typewriter.

I love you,

Mother