Pregnancy center fulfills great need

I want to salute a group of volunteers in Trumann who have worked to open a pregnancy care center. I think this is one of the best things to happen in our area in a long time.

Shannon Bruner has worked for three years to see her dream become a reality, and now women of all ages have a place to turn to when they found themselves facing an unplanned pregnancy.

Not only does the center offer free pregnancy testing, but they also have several ways to help pregnant women through education courses and even provide necessary supplies like diapers.

The center strives to help women understand there are alternatives to abortion, such as adoption or even raising the baby with a little help along the way.

Anyone who has read my column over the years knows my stance against abortion. We can approach abortion from a political viewpoint or a religious point of view, but the fact is that abortion hurts more than just an unborn child. It also causes deep wounds in the mothers and fathers of the unborn child.

The thing about the pregnancy resource centers like the one in Trumann that I love so much is that they don't preach, preach and preach at you. They work to educate women about abortion while gently offering them the love of Jesus Christ.

At this point, it's hard to imagine any court overthrowing "a woman's right to choose," so if I suddenly found a large voice in politics, I think my push would be to mandate education with abortion. New laws were passed a few years ago that say a person must undergo financial counseling before and after filing bankruptcy. Why shouldn't a woman be required to undergo some sort of education process before having an abortion? I don't mean women facing abortion for medical reasons, but rather women who simply want to end an unwanted pregnancy. (This more than 90% of abortions by the way.)

You may think these thoughts strange, but hear me out. A lot of women, especially scared young girls, just don't know what they're getting themselves in to when it comes to having an abortion. They don't know what to expect medically from the procedure, nor to they fully understand the risks of the "surgery." And, most importantly, no one prepares them for the psychological effects and guilt that many women carry for a lifetime.

So, if there are any legislators out there reading, take my idea and run with it. In the meantime, it's nice for our county to have a place that will reach out to these women in love, not judgment. I hope you will join me in praying for them.

The center is located at 912 West Speedway in Trumann and will be open from 4-6 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons and on from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays.