16 years old and pregnant. Rumors that she wants to get married. Whew! What a mess she’s gotten into. Yes, I know that it takes two to tango, but she’s responsible for her actions. I applaud her for not opting for abortion, the easy way out. She could have aborted the child and maybe no one would have ever known. But, she would have known. Her spirit would have been wounded. This way is definitely harder in a lot of respects. As much as she wants to still be a kid, she now has adult responsibilities. And she has a life to nurture and teach and raise in a way God is pleased with. Is she a Christian? I don’t know - not even a clue. But, I do know that God loves her and has a wonderful plan for her life, even now.

How could a 16 year old in today’s world, not know the dangers of unprotected sex? Why would she hook up with a guy who has so little respect for her that he wouldn’t protect her from an unwanted pregnancy? If he really respected her, he wouldn’t have had sex with her in the first place. Where were Jamie Lynn’s mother and big sister, Britney? Didn’t they take the time to teach her to respect herself in the most basic of way?

I read that she met the father in church. How sad is that. It seems that either the church hasn’t been reaching these two young people, or the message of that church isn’t the same one my church teaches. Or, maybe it was just a childish mistake. Is it too much to ask of our young people to resist sexual temptation in this day and age? I don’t think it is. I know a number of teens who have consciously decided to forego sex. While I can’t know for sure that they are living up to that standard, I see nothing in their lives that makes me wonder.

In any event, we, as the body of Christ need to remember to often lift our young people in prayer, support them in every way possible, and encourage them daily. May God bless the Spears family during this holiday season and may He reveal Himself to them.