Good-Bye Shame, You’ve Been Replaced by Grace

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.                                                                                Psalm 139:13-14 NIV

I lifted the yellow baby brush, gently gliding it through his soft hair. He was beautiful, eight pounds twelve ounces. Looking into his dark-brown olive eyes, I cradled him as he cooed and gurgled.

How did I get here?

A mom at eighteen? I had no clue what I was in for. Thank God for a supportive family.

It was my senior year. We all remember high school, the drama, the cliques, the inclusions and exclusions. I joined clubs and went to parties. All was going according to plan. Then things changed. Friends moved away, dropped out, drifted apart. I was vulnerable, searching for something to fill the empty places.

I began working at a grocery store as a cashier. There was this older guy in the produce department. He flirted with me, and the attention made me blush. He asked me out and there you go, the beginning of over-my-head.

When we build relationships on physical attraction, the foundation is foolishly built upon the sand. tweet that

It was nearing Christmastime and I came down with the flu, or so I thought. It was my mother who first realized this flu might eventually need a name. We did the test.

Home pregnancy tests back then didn’t have lines, they had donuts. If a donut shape appeared, the test was positive. I would never look at a donut the same way again.

I told him. We made plans to marry.

What was happening to me?

I felt shame. I felt branded. I was no longer a high school girl going to parties, I was that pregnant girl who had to leave school to plan a shot-gun wedding, minus the shot-gun.

I hid.

I wouldn’t go anywhere, and as the baby grew, my shame grew too.

Sin may be fun for a season, but what we hide in darkness, will be exposed by the light. tweet that

I loved my baby and that never changed, but something did change, or rather someone. This man I planned to marry wasn’t who he portrayed himself to be. My engagement ended.

I now know God had other plans for who my future husband would be.

Fast forward two years and I meet the man I was meant to marry. The man who cared for my son, and made me feel loved and treasured.

As my son grew, I was proud of him every moment of his life. Still, I couldn’t shake the shame of my teenage pregnancy. I cringed as people did the math in their heads, even as I got older.

Teenage moms can feel a loss of identity. I longed to fit in with friends, but I just didn’t anymore. They were going to parties and planning college, while I was breastfeeding and changing diapers.

I felt like what I did made me who I was, that pregnant girl. Then I met Jesus, and the truth set me free.

What we did in the past doesn’t make us who we are; it’s what Jesus did for us that confirms our identity.

Jesus had already taken my shame to the cross, it just took me a while to find that out.

When Jesus overcame our shame, years of disgrace were replaced by grace. tweet that

I shared this story while speaking at a women’s event. After stepping from the stage, countless women couldn’t wait to say “me too.” This is why we need to tell our stories; because we overcome the enemy by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony.

When we share how God brings beauty from ashes, our past story becomes part of our grace story.

So goodbye shame, Jesus took you away, and I will gladly step into the light and tell others about it. My fearfully and wonderfully made son is now thirty-five. I’m fifty-three. I’m smiling as you do the math.

This post was included in a compilation of encouraging posts on Kelly Balarie’s blog. Please visit her site by clicking the link below. I know you will be blessed by the other writers, and the words God has given them to share: 

http://purposefulfaith.com/injection-of-encouragement/

Blessings to you beyond measure, and thanks for stopping by.

Forever Walking Deeper and shame-free In Him,

Doris

 

 

 

10 Comments

  1. Mikki Jo

    My story is similar, thanks so much for sharing! It blessed me!

    • Doris S. Swift

      So glad to hear this Mikki Jo! I think there are a lot of us who share this experience. It blesses me to hear from you! Thanks for stopping by, and for your comments friend.

  2. Valerie

    Thank you for sharing your testimony. I love your words “our past story becomes part of our grace story.”

    • Doris S. Swift

      Thank you for stopping by Valerie, and for your encouraging comments! Keep sharing your Grace Story, and blessings to you!

  3. Linda Perkins

    What a beautiful post, Doris. So many good lessons here. One that I will share with my daughter, who is a “tween” and has a friend dating an older guy. And at least one for the rest of us who have those things in our past that we feel shame over, when we really just need to grasp hold of God’s big hand of grace and forgive ourselves. Thanks for sharing your heart. Blessings.

    • Doris S. Swift

      Thank you Linda, for your comments. So glad these life-lessons can be shared. Blessings to you!

  4. Susan B Mead

    Beauty to ashes indeed Doris. And a gift that God knew before you did.

    • Doris S. Swift

      Thank you Susan, and so true, He did know that sweet gift before me. Thanks for that comment, it blessed me big-time!

  5. Rosie Jensing

    Doris, thank you for your post. Shame replaced by grace!!! What a beautiful thought! I know I have needed that on many occasions. I am thankful that He always comes through.

    • Doris S. Swift

      Thank you for your comments Rosie, and Amen! He always comes through. Blessings to you!

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