September 1, 2008 1:07 PM
Palins announce daughter is pregnant now - Kos lied
Well, I guess this proves that Daily Kos was lying.
Breaking news:
Gov. Palin Says Her Unmarried 17-Year-Old Daughter Is PregnantSeptember 01, 2008 12:28 PM
"We have been blessed with five wonderful children who we love with all our heart and mean everything to us," reads the statement from Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and her husband Todd.
"Our beautiful daughter Bristol came to us with news that as parents we knew would make her grow up faster than we had ever planned," they continued, referring to their 17-year-old daughter. "As Bristol faces the responsibilities of adulthood, she knows she has our unconditional love and support."
The Palins said that "Bristol and the young man she will marry are going to realize very quickly the difficulties of raising a child, which is why they will have the love and support of our entire family. We ask the media, respect our daughter and Levi's privacy as has always been the tradition of children of candidates."
The campaign of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who announced Palin as his running mate just three days ago, said the Palins would have no further comment."We ask that the media respect their daughter in the same tradition that has been afforded children of past candidates," McCain spokeswoman Jill Hazelbaker said.
Read entire article here.
I suppose that this means another bloc of judgmental, self-righteous fundamentalist fanatics will say it's proof that Palin isn't meant to be where she is.
I say look to the Bible for example after example of God-appointed leaders who had real lives - full of flaws - and children who brought judgment to their parents.
I've lived long enough and met enough Christian parents who did everything right only to see their children make poor choices that I would never ever use that in judgment over another parent. It's easy when your children are young to think that if you put in all the right ingredients, they will turn out perfectly. Those of us who've done that and then watched our children grow into adults - most of us - know that that's just not the case.
God gave us free will. And thinking that you can control the outcome of your children's lives - preventing them from ever making mistakes - is a form of spiritual pride. Even the perfect parent - God Our Father - saw his children who enjoyed perfect daily intimate relationship with Him disobey His commands.
I wrote yesterday that God sends trials to leaders to test them - and to test us as well. I see a lot of Christians poised to fail this test. I am praying for them even as I pray for the Palins.
All I can say as someone who has seen my own plans crumble is that I thank God every day for each and every way they did. Otherwise I might still be the same unmerciful judgmental person I was when I did everything perfectly.
God bless Sarah Palin and her family. It's not the fact that her daughter got pregnant so much as the fact of how they are handling it that shows their true values.
I've heard from the pulpit that the abortion rate among evangelicals is as high as among the general population. That's because evangelicals would rather face God's judgment than the judgment of their peers. Hallelujah that the Palins - mother and daughter both - chose life when it would have been more convenient and less embarrassing to choose death.
Consider being merciful in your judgment. Ask God to guide your thoughts.
We are sinners saved by grace. That means each one of us is closer to falling than many care to think. And pride goes before a fall - God will not allow believers to stay in our self-righteousness and judgment of others. He loves us too much.
Bottom line: now more than ever, McCain/Palin.
Posted in Campaign 2008, Pro-Life Issues | Permalink
Comments
I feel bad for Bristol. She has an indiscretion and next thing you know the whole world is making fun of her AND her mother. Poor kid.
Posted by: paigeu | September 1, 2008 1:33 PM
Bristol should not have to walk through this with judgment and criticism. It is difficult enough for a teenager to become a mommy. I hope (and pray) that the media will back off enough to let her grow and gain perspective in private.
Meanwhile, I guess Obama would say Bristol is "being punished with a baby." Something he stated he would not want for his daughter, should she become pregnant before carefully-laid plans were fulfilled.
Perhaps America will see that great things often come in unexpected packages.
Posted by: ElizabethMThompson | September 1, 2008 1:39 PM
The Palin family really needs our prayers........
Posted by: Lisa | September 1, 2008 1:41 PM
Amen and Amen! May God bless America with this family in the vice-president position.
Posted by: Joyce | September 1, 2008 1:44 PM
We all need to remember that satan goes after the children of high profile Christians.........
I feel bad for pastor's kids.....
Posted by: Lisa | September 1, 2008 1:51 PM
Thank God that Bristol and her parents have a relationship that allowed her to be able to come to them with the news of her pregnancy. It's times like these in a family when the foundation of high expectations must be laid on the bedrock of unconditional love. Everyone of us have failed to meet the expectations of those we love at many times in our lives. The feeling of being loved in spite of the disappointment and often anger allows us to face the challenges that we often bring upon ourselves. Our failings may not be so public or in this specific area but they are most definitely there...so let's not cast stones, just offer prayers for fortitude and wisdom for the family.
Posted by: Reen | September 1, 2008 1:54 PM
I do love what you've written, Barbara. I don't remember much conversation about the sex lives of other politicians' children, but the media will pounce on this. To me, it's the way that this family is dealing with this that says so much!
Posted by: Shannon M | September 1, 2008 2:04 PM
Grace, grace, grace, we all need abounding grace. Thanks for your post, Barbara!
Posted by: Pam | September 1, 2008 2:10 PM
AND, let's give a shout out to McCain for choosing Sarah Palin ANYWAY! He must have known, and kudos for going for her anyway! AND, prayers for the entire Palin family as babies bring immense change for all involved.
Posted by: Imajackson | September 1, 2008 2:21 PM
Great post, Barbara! I've been reading some of various news website articles on the internet concerning this subject, and from the feedback comments that often follow these articles it's clear to me who the hateful, intolerant people are in this country. In the end, the hateful person has no room for anyone but themselves.
Posted by: Evergreen | September 1, 2008 3:04 PM
VERY well said! I couldn't agree more!!! I would LOVE to meet the Palin family someday!
Posted by: Renee Garcia | September 1, 2008 3:39 PM
Though I'm not familiar with the details of the politics going on over there, I pray that the McCain-Palin team win in the elections! I also pray that the Palin family grows even closer through this experience with Bristol.
I am really hoping that these candidates who let life-affirming principles guide their political choices will win because much of the goings-on in my country are dictated in some way by whatever's happening in the US. Right now, there is much debate over "reproductive health rights" going on here, with some people in government pushing for easy access to family planning services.
Posted by: Sunnyday | September 1, 2008 7:26 PM
Barbara, I couldn't agree with you more. I guess where I'm having a hard time with what you are saying is where was this call for mercy and non-judgement when there was in this discussion about Lynn Spears. http://mommylife.net/archives/2007/12/lynn_spears_ste.html
Please know that I'm not trying to be argumentative. I have been a faithful reader here for over two years and have gleaned much from your wisdom as a mother to many. I guess, I just feel like there is a double standard here. Or perhaps that the criticism was rather harsh of Lynn Spears. Believe me, I'm not some huge Lynn Spears fan either. I just didn't see the compassion there, that I am seeing here. That's all.
[Excuse my replying right here, but I'm short of time.
My post on Lynn Spears had to do with the ridiculous situation that a Christian publisher had planned to roll out a parenting book from someone who obviously was having problems as a mom.
There is absolutely no comparison between Lynn Spears and Sarah Palin. From my admittedly not-too-intense observation, she seems to have ridden her daughter's clim=b to fame and enjoyed spending the money they made - quite lavishly.
Sarah Palin has allowed herself to become a public servant - in the spirit in which our Founding Fathers intended. She did not go looking for power - it came to her.
Again, my specific complaint was that Lynn Spears was not qualified in any way to write a parenting book - but the evangelical publishing world often makes this kid of absurd connection in pursuit of profits.
Now, having brought that up - what do you think of the media's reaction to Jamie (Is it Jamie?) Spears teenage pregnancy - which was celebrated ad nauseum, and Bristol"s which is suddenly - after all the liberals have done to convince us that teen sex is wonderful and natural - a cause for shame and a reason to disqualify her mother from political life? ]
Posted by: Nicki | September 1, 2008 10:07 PM
Barbara-
As a self-professed "Obama girl", I was taken aback by the "punished with a baby" comment. I've been pro-choice for years, and probably will remain so - why? Because even though I find abortion absolutely abhorrent, it isn't MY decision to make for someone else. It is up to that lady, and her soul to deal with, in the Lord, ultimately. That being said, I was pretty saddened, as a mom to an unexpected baby, to hear that come from Mr.Obama's mouth. I told my husband that it made me reconsider casting a vote at all this election year, and spending the next 4 years silent about all things political (if you don't vote, don't complain).
Now, with Sarah Palin in the picture, I feel a sense of happiness over the election. Sure, I'll admit I've probably had a sip or two of the Palin kool-aid. But she's such a refreshing political figure. I hate to say it, but I'll probably be voting for HER this election. Not a huge fan of McCain, but I greatly admire Mrs. Palin. Sure, her family has made mistakes - they're not perfect, but none of us are.
I think the way they are handling Bristol's pregnancy is so graceful, and as it should be - we are called to love, as Christians. I just wish the media would leave the poor kid alone, KWIM?
Posted by: Andrea | September 3, 2008 12:19 PM
