My home state is facing a ballot box question next month to vote yes or no on an amendment that addresses the long debated act of abortion. For weeks, I have watched both my conservative and more liberal-leaning friends promote their position with sincere conviction to uphold and protect what they believe is right.
It is a controversy. A conversation about government; it’s also a conversation about an industry that is profiting at the expense of life. Both the baby’s and the mommy’s.
I know what the scriptures say:
Jeremiah 1:4-5 Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
Genesis 9:5-6 And for your lifeblood I will require a reckoning: from every beast I will require it and from man. From his fellow man I will require a reckoning for the life of man. “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image.”
John 1:3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
But what about rape, incest? When the mother’s life is in danger? That is the thing – in this situation, in the instant such a decision is made – a mother’s life is in danger.
I have listened to testimonies of the heartbroken, the cries of women who made the choice to end it; who would take it back if they could. I do not believe women were created to carry such guilt. Even those who live in forgiveness find it hard to forget. Is it truly in their best interest to make the decision, the procedure, the ending… so easy?
Do we consider an abortion clinic to be the equivalent of the hospitals where we delivered our own babies?
Sadly, there are women whose pregnancies put their bodies in greater physical danger than others, some who choose to carry their children as long as possible but are still forced to check into hospitals to deliver babies too premature to survive. We grieve. Yet there are others whose teeny preemies are miracles made, having birthday parties and throwing tantrums and continuing to develop into the people God created.
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9
I know families with special needs children who if ever faced with the decision to terminate the precious child they love so dear would shudder with sadness as the world would be so much darker without them. Mommies who were only able to hold their children for moments, treasures our Heavenly Father will reunite again one glorious day.
I also know women with children born from rape; families who have carried the kind of pain and agony that only God could redeem as beautiful, His masterpiece from the mess. It is not easy, but it is love.
That is what our God does. He takes the evil and crushes it and breathes in new life. We must only ask Him and trust Him and hold His hand along the way.
I’ve read comments from men who champion the option to clinically abort and even from mothers raising tomorrow’s mothers in their homes, and my heart hurts.
Ask a mother who was never given the chance to hear the heartbeat of her firstborn, taken from her with no choice, was that truly a life living inside? Her heart will never be the same. Ask a mommy whose baby made it through a miracle with a premature birthday if it was worth the wonder and the work. There is no greater gift.
If we are wanting to protect mommies, wanting to protect babies, wanting to protect the freedom we have to live, we must be ready to defend those who cannot do so for themselves, as well as those who do not yet know the destruction that comes later.
We must decide whether it is important to elect officials who have power to make important decisions, too. We must vote. We must pray for who wins.
And so a day following the day many of my friends reminded the world of the sadness and suffering from pregnancy loss, I am speaking up.
My hope is to encourage life. Abundant life. The free, forgiven life.
It is found in Jesus alone. The beginning and the end. The Son who gave His life to give us, who believe Him and live with Him, as a gift to His Heavenly Father.
All of us are lost without Him.
If you are reading this post and feel lifeless, please find a Holy Bible. Open it up to John’s Gospel, and meet Him.
If you are troubled over past decisions and need the forgiveness only He can give, ask Him.
If you know that voting is not enough, do more.
Pray. Support. Give. Be it financially to help centers that address the needs of crisis pregnancies safely and support women walking through past decisions of devastation or serving through adoption and foster programs and rehabilitation centers for women on the road to recovery or at schools or churches or community groups that teach there is value in life. No matter what brought the parents to this moment in time, they are valued. They are loved. Help mommies know that they will be okay.
No matter what was chosen before, choose obedience now.
If you are not sure if this topic is coming back up for a reason, it is. The lives of babies and mommies and our future are at stake. That’s why I’m not just writing another blog about abortion and death. I’m writing one about valuing a life that Jesus tells us is worth living.
Lord, do not let your children be ignored. Teach us how to love like you do. Every. Step. Of. The. Way. In the name of the Holy One who brought me back to life, Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Research:
http://www.hopeclinicforwomen.org
http://www.porticostory.org
http://m.bethany.org
http://www.marchofdimes.org
http://www.thenextdoor.org
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