Adults

Child marriage often leads to early childbirth, the leading killer of adolescent girls in Africa.

Pray for safety for all the young girls in the world who will give birth today.

Children

Poor people sometimes have to spend most of their money on food. If food gets more expensive, they can’t afford to buy more and might have to go hungry. If you usually buy snacks as a treat, why not buy something smaller today and give the change to Christian Aid?

One of the things that shocked and horried me as I read some social media responses to the recent Comic relief appeal, with its footage from Africa, was that some people in the UK still feel at liberty to say "they should stopped foom breeding".  Such comments riase my blood temeprature and pressure more than somewhat.  It is undoubtedly the case that access to safe, reliable contraception has the potential to save lives.  But the correlation between access to safe reliable contraception and reduced numbers of young women becoming pregnant is far from proven, as statisitcs for the UK illustrate all too plainly.

I don't have the time or energy to formulate a proper reflection on this, but it seems to me that physical and emotional poverty are both factors that lead to young women becoming mothers at a very young age, irrespective of where in the world they live.  Whilst teenage mothers in the UK have access to world class care, not all access it, and tragedies will occur.  I don't think it's even as simple as questions of 'choice'.  Just self-perpetuating cycles of struggle and vulnerability.

Jesus, son of Mary

A young mother, not yet wed,

You know fine well how risky it is for a pubescent girl to carry a child

You know the shrieks of pain and the mess of blood and water that accompany childbirth beyond our sterile western world

You know the risk of infection to mother and child as she delivers in poverty, without access to clean water or warm blankets, never mind medical care

You know the young womwn who, today, in Africa, in Britain, and throughout the world, who will this day enter the travail of childbirth...

You know that by nightfall some will be enjoying motherhood, while others, at best, cling desperately to life...

Jesus, son of Mary, son of God, have mercy on them.

Amen

My pledge

Today - one prayer

Total - £43.20, eight prayers, some thoughts and one e-petition signed