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MIA KOEHNE

Life... So glad You Made it! Be life-Do Life

7/15/2019

11 Comments

 
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Last night we celebrated the birth of our oldest son, Chris. He turned 28. He's amazing! He's smart, funny, quick witted, loves Jesus, his wife and his family. He works hard. He gets down at times, but he gets back up. He's not a quitter. It has been a joy and honor to raise him (imperfectly at times) love him and watch him grow into a super tall and loving guy! He's kind of a freak of nature, not sure how he got to be 6'4", but it comes in really handy at times.

As our kids are all now married, the plans for their birthday celebrations fall onto their spouses and we just hang back. When we were invited to join them for Chris's 28th birthday dinner, we jumped at the opportunity to celebrate his life.

I am a little more emotional this year as I see him closing in on 30, married and working hard. You see, when I found out I was pregnant with him, I was kind of a wreck. I didn't have my life together. I was single and partying non stop.

But in the midst of that there was one thing that kept me going...VOLLEYBALL. I was good, really good. Granted, today I can't jump 2 inches off the ground, but in my hay-day, I could get up there.

Volleyball was everything. Finding out I was pregnant halfway through the sophomore year of my college volleyball season, with a full ride scholarship offer from another University, sent me into shock.

I didn't know what to do. The school looking to bring me on thought I could swing it, get back in shape, do school, motherhood and play volleyball all while moving away from home. I just didn't see that happening. It was all so overwhelming.

The other advice I was given was to abort. Abort my baby, abort Chris. I remember that voice as if it were yesterday. "You have so much going for you, you should have an abortion." But the thing was, it wasn't just one voice. It was several voices. Several voices telling me to end the life of my beautiful child so that I could play two more years of volleyball. To them it seemed like an easy exchange.

Yet, there was a voice that was buried in my heart that said, "You can do this, I will give you the strength." It wasn't as loud as the other voices. But it was still and small and I wanted to hear more of it.

I remember sitting and telling my parents that I was pregnant. I remember their hearts aching for me, because they knew what my lifestyle was like. I remember my Dad, with love in his heart, suggesting adoption as an option, but I also remember my parents both saying that no matter what they would be there for me, they would support me. And that's what they did.

As a single mom for the first 2.5 years of Chris's life, I was anything but single. I was loved and supported by my family, my parents and my community. That love is what amplified the voice of truth when the voice of the lie seemed so loud.

As someone that always considered myself Pro-Life, even at 19 years of age... I recognize there is a challenge when you are faced with that choice in real life, when you are alone, broke, and people are telling you what you should do, when it is all still legal and accepted. 

My point is this: May we be the kind of people that walk alongside others to amplify God's truth into the darkness, truth that is hard to hear in desperation. Sometimes the choice that people would make might be different if they simply felt loved and supported. Maybe it's not enough to simply say 'Choose life", maybe we need to BE LIFE and DO LIFE alongside the hurting.

So as I celebrated the fact that my son turned 28 last night, it was much more than that for me. It was a lifetime of being thankful that He is alive, that he "made it out" (that's an inside joke, but so very true), that he was loved and supported by so many people all throughout  his life.

And the most amazing words I heard from my Dad, who was an advocate for all life especially life of the unborn; my Dad, who looked at a broken messed up 19 year old, not imagining how on earth I could parent and care for a human being, let alone, myself was the day that he said to me "Mia, I am so glad that you didn't give him up for adoption. I am so glad you kept him. I love him so much."

Little did my Dad know, I could not have done it without him. Chris, my son, his little boy, was the apple of his eye. Grandpa was the first daddy that he had, until Bob, my husband and his Father, walked into our lives.

So, to my son, Chris, Happy Birthday, I am so glad that you are alive. I am so glad that you made it out!! I simply cannot imagine a world without you ever having been in it. You changed my life.
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11 Comments
Ashley Robertson
7/15/2019 12:05:52 pm

I am so blessed to read your testimony & to be able to relate at the same age with my first daughter- mother at 19. Scared to death. But didn’t know if I was going to consider adoption. My daughter is 15 now & her father & I were together 12 years & then married 7 years. I have a 3 year old now that I birthed at 30 years old. I am remarried to my soul mate almost 2 years now & have gained 2 step sons! I chose the mommy life too! & God told me I’d be ok if I trusted His plans for us. So I did. & I’m so glad I listened to Him & not considered other options. I promised my great grandmother on her death bed to “have this baby & don’t let anyone tell me any different”. So- my 15 year old helped me through life. & we are still going strong! By the Grace of God & our unconditional love for one another.

Reply
Mia Koehne
7/15/2019 01:17:44 pm

I am so glad as well. It's can be difficult, but love and support make the difference. It's amazing how, even in the toughest of situations, God can use it to change the direction of our lives!

Reply
Nancy Southworth link
7/15/2019 12:05:59 pm

Awesome! Thanks for sharing your story! I have a similar story, with my 2 children. God gave them to me and they thrive today, my son in his 50's and my daughter in her 40's! God is good!
Thank you,
Nancy

Reply
Mis Koehne
7/15/2019 01:15:06 pm

Nancy, I love that. Thanks for sharing the blessings of your children!
-Mia

Reply
Brenda Pate
7/15/2019 02:55:49 pm

Mia,
I am so glad I was able to meet you last year at Aspire in Las Vegas. You blessed me that night and since then through your blog. Thank you so much for sharing your story about Chris. I have tears in my eyes. May God continue to watch over you and your family! Brenda

Reply
Louise Andrud
7/15/2019 03:47:21 pm

Mia, your experiences are always such a blessing to me - always uplifting, always giving God the glory, be it for your success or seeing you through the troubled times of your life! May He continue to bless you in your ministry and bless everyone who hears your stories!❤️

Reply
Wendysue Fluegge link
7/15/2019 04:57:21 pm

Thank you for sharing. What an inspiring story of reflection. I am so glad you chose life and had the support of your parents to come alongside you!

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Jeanette Buse-Schoon
7/15/2019 05:12:12 pm

What a beautiful testimony of love..I can relate..I also became pregnant my 1st yr in college; disappointing many family members..Even though I ended up marrying the father I never once at the young age 18, not once did I contemplate abortion..It had been suggested to me but it was not something I believed in..I thank God for my son every day and the two wonderful grandsons he and his wife gave to me..Thank you for loving and trusting us enough with your beautiful story Mia..

Reply
sandy finelli
7/16/2019 05:44:34 pm

Mia,
Thank you for your transparency and sharing your story.

Reply
Kathy
7/17/2019 09:02:49 am

Thank You Mia, For Sharing Your Story. I am thankful that you chose life.

Reply
Karen
7/17/2019 11:58:30 am

Beautiful life-giving story! My husband's biological mother chose (after already having 1 abortion) to give birth to him. She chose adoption instead of abortion and we are forever grateful! I love your statement - 'Choose life", maybe we need to BE LIFE and DO LIFE alongside the hurting! Thank you, Mia, for being a transparent shining light.

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