The correct answer is b

"The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy." John 10:10a

My mom was not expecting, that day she went into the doctor's office, to hear what she heard. She thought she just had a persistent flu. After all, she and my dad had been married an awfully long time, my sister was 18, and they had given up on having any more children. Yet the doctor told her that day that no, she didn't have the flu--she was pregnant! Good news!

Not exactly. At the age of 38, in 1963, that was actually not so good news. Medical science in that day felt that this was a dangerous age to have a baby, so the doctor then advised my mom to terminate the pregnancy because there was a good chance, he said, that she could birth "an idiot."

"...You covered me in my mother’s womb." Psalm 139:13

But my mom, who usually was so obedient to doctor's orders, stood her ground. She refused, and asked for a new doctor. 

See, we have an enemy. He is real, and his purpose is to steal, kill, and destroy, according to Jesus. He would have won an easy battle if he had destroyed me before I had ever been born. But my mom knew to choose life, and let God handle the results of her pregnancy. Thanks, Mom...thanks, God. 

But the enemy had another straight up shot at me when I was about 17, 18 years old--and this time I cooperated with him. Out doing things I shouldn't have been doing, with people I shouldn't have been with, I was right in his targets. I should have been dead many times over, but yet here I am. 

During these times, my mom would bow her head as her wayward daughter went out into the night and say, "God, I don't know where she's going, but You do. Keep her safe." This daughter she had refused to destroy was now seemingly on the way to destruction. In fact, she showed me one night what followed me right to the front door every night when I returned from my wanderings...a demon. It stood at the front door, unable to enter because my dad had built a godly household and my mom prayed. I don't remember what it looked like, but it was there, and I screamed. 

"...your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." 1 Peter 5:8

I got myself together decently and went on to earn a Master's Degree in counseling psychology--take that, 1963 doctor. However, though dramatic danger and disobedience was over, my heart was till up for grabs. 

Yet, in 1996 I bowed my head, humbled my heart, confessed I was a wretch, and gave my life to Jesus. My husband and I have four handsome sons who know Jesus. My mind is permeated with the Word. And now I pray for kids who are in their own battles, because as for me, God "has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me.." Psalm 55:18a.


"...I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." John 10:10b

Yes and Amen, to the glory of God.