You Have the Choice

It was a normal day, around 3:30 in the afternoon, and Amelia was folding her her son's laundry, including his football jersey. As she was doing this, she was letting her mind wander, and that led her to start thinking about her son. "Star of the football team and he already has a promising career for being a college football player when he graduates." She sighs. "My Liam is such an amazing kid: smart, kind to others in his class, has good friends, and always works hard for what he wants. I could not have asked for a more perf-" 

 Amelia's thought process was interrupted when she heard the door of her house opening. Turning, she looked to see who was coming into her house, and was both stunned and confused when she saw her son, Liam, standing there. "Strange" she thought, "he is never home this early from school. He usually has practice until 5." 

"Hi Liam, you're home early. Was practice cancelled today?" She asked. Liam's rich voice replied in a disheartened monotone, "no". Amelia's stomach dropped: something wasn't right.  Now concerned for her son, she heard herself saying "What's the matter sweetheart?" 

"It's nothing Mom, don't worry about it," he said. "This doesn't sound like my Liam." She thought. "Liam, I know that there is something bothering you. What is it, so that I can know how to help you?" Liam hesitated. He was still standing by the door he just entered through, and was shifting from side to side - clearly uncomfortable, and clearly deciding if he wanted to do this or not. After a couple of seconds, he placed his backpack down on the ground, and walked over to the living room where she was seated. He sat on the same couch, but was farther away that Amelia would have liked. Regardless, he was still going to tell her. 

She patiently waited for him to gather up the courage to speak what was on his mind. After a couple of minuets with his head in his hands, Liam sat up straight and looked at her, and he said plain and simple, "I am gay."

Now, as to what happens for the rest of this story, I am going to leave that up to you to decide. We all have certain opinions, and there are many different ways that Amelia could respond to Liam, depending on her views about her child being gay, or even just gay oriented people. 

Now, notice how I am not saying "homosexual". I believe that being homosexual and being gay are two completely different things. I know what you are thinking, and yes, those terms are very similar when it comes to describing a person, but let's take it a little deeper. When you Google the term "gay" and are searching for a definition, you get exactly what I said it wasn't related to: "homosexual". However, it was once a way to describe a feeling, and a certain way a person acted. Eventually, this changed into a sexual orientation. 

There has been research done showing that if a man is told over and over again that he is gay, then he can't be anything other than gay. He won't ever be able to have a family, to be a father, or even to be a husband, all because all he knows is to be "gay". 

Newsflash for everyone: THIS IS NOT TRUE! 

If a man chooses to be attracted to men, that is 100% his choice. If a man wants to be attracted to women, that is 100% his choice. A man that is "gay" can have a very successful and happy marriage. A man that is "gay" can have children and become a father with a woman he loves. 

Stop telling people that when you have come to the conclusion that you are "gay" that this is the way that God has made you. No, you have a biological component that makes you attracted to other males, but you do not have to act upon them. If you want to be attracted to women, choose to be. If you want to be attracted to men, choose to be. 

What people say does not define who you are. You have the choice, and you are the only one who can make it.