I found out that Roe v. Wade was overturned from a text from a pro-life group that I have supported in the past. I was surprised at the emotions that almost overcame me. Tears of joy came to my eyes, and when I called to tell my husband, he was surprised he got emotional too.
Abortion has been federally legal my entire life, and most of my husband’s life. I was born two years after Roe v. Wade. It’s always made me angry to think that a body of nine men - nine justices - passed this down to my generation.
To me, abortion is the barbaric act of ending the life of an innocent child, an innocent human being. Whether you believe that the life that was terminated was viable outside the womb or not, or nothing more than a clump of cells, it is a human life nonetheless through all stages, and that is what’s being snuffed out.
For years I have heard the argument that pro-life people only care about keeping the child alive to birth, and then that’s it - they don’t care about the mother and her struggle to raise a child she did not plan for or the child after he or she is born. That is simply false. I am sure there are some people who believe abortion is wrong and don’t really act in a compassionate way towards women in crisis pregnancy situations, but there have been many people and not-for-profit organizations that help women and their children in these situations for years. Besides, even if they didn’t, that doesn’t make the dismemberment of children in the womb right, just like even if people don’t care enough to care for the homeless or refugees, it wouldn't make it right to exterminate them.
In my lifetime, I have discovered many compassionate pro-life people who volunteer their time and give of their finances to help pregnant women while encouraging them to allow their child to be born. Many of these people work in crisis pregnancy centers all over the country. Some simply attend churches who do the same good work.
It’s confounding to me that people who work in abortion clinics and pro-abortion activists often label Christians and other pro-lifers as uncaring and crisis pregnancy centers as “fake pregnancy clinics” when abortion workers are making money off of people in crisis. These pro-lifers and crisis pregnancy centers are volunteers who are there simply to help people.
Pregnancy centers around the country, and even churches, are being targeted now with vandalism and threats of violence. It’s hard for me not to be angry, not to want to lash out in response to this hateful, abhorrent behavior. But as a Christian, I should respond in a different way. I should continue to do what I can to support women (and the fathers in some cases) in less-than-ideal pregnancy situations, as well as their children after they are born. I can also support those churches and pregnancy centers and the good work that they have done for decades, especially those who are dealing with their buildings being burned down.
We have a local resource center that provides diapers, clothing, formula, and other baby items for pregnant women. They also offer pregnancy tests, resource material, encouragement and friendship, as well as prenatal classes and referrals to other social services. I have been part of drives in churches that collect items for pregnant women in need. I see pro-life activists giving of their own money and time and organizing drives through Amazon gift registries to help pregnant women in need. Sometimes they just need encouragement and a little help to get through a pregnancy that they didn’t think they could get through.
So if someone tries to tell you that pro-lifers don’t care about the child besides just making sure it’s born alive, that’s not true. And you don’t have to look very hard to find that out for yourself. Besides, in my opinion, saving the life of an innocent human being in and of itself is very noble and worthy, even if you did nothing after. But we do need to do things after, even more than we have before because there will be more women and their little ones in need more than ever.
There is also a need for more compassion and understanding of how difficult it can be to have an unplanned pregnancy.
We also need to be there with open arms for those who are on the other side of an abortion. Many of these women (and men involved in the decision) feel guilt and regret. We need to be there to share with them that there is redemption and forgiveness in a relationship with Christ.
Abortion has been federally legal my entire life, and most of my husband’s life. I was born two years after Roe v. Wade. It’s always made me angry to think that a body of nine men - nine justices - passed this down to my generation.
To me, abortion is the barbaric act of ending the life of an innocent child, an innocent human being. Whether you believe that the life that was terminated was viable outside the womb or not, or nothing more than a clump of cells, it is a human life nonetheless through all stages, and that is what’s being snuffed out.
For years I have heard the argument that pro-life people only care about keeping the child alive to birth, and then that’s it - they don’t care about the mother and her struggle to raise a child she did not plan for or the child after he or she is born. That is simply false. I am sure there are some people who believe abortion is wrong and don’t really act in a compassionate way towards women in crisis pregnancy situations, but there have been many people and not-for-profit organizations that help women and their children in these situations for years. Besides, even if they didn’t, that doesn’t make the dismemberment of children in the womb right, just like even if people don’t care enough to care for the homeless or refugees, it wouldn't make it right to exterminate them.
In my lifetime, I have discovered many compassionate pro-life people who volunteer their time and give of their finances to help pregnant women while encouraging them to allow their child to be born. Many of these people work in crisis pregnancy centers all over the country. Some simply attend churches who do the same good work.
It’s confounding to me that people who work in abortion clinics and pro-abortion activists often label Christians and other pro-lifers as uncaring and crisis pregnancy centers as “fake pregnancy clinics” when abortion workers are making money off of people in crisis. These pro-lifers and crisis pregnancy centers are volunteers who are there simply to help people.
Pregnancy centers around the country, and even churches, are being targeted now with vandalism and threats of violence. It’s hard for me not to be angry, not to want to lash out in response to this hateful, abhorrent behavior. But as a Christian, I should respond in a different way. I should continue to do what I can to support women (and the fathers in some cases) in less-than-ideal pregnancy situations, as well as their children after they are born. I can also support those churches and pregnancy centers and the good work that they have done for decades, especially those who are dealing with their buildings being burned down.
We have a local resource center that provides diapers, clothing, formula, and other baby items for pregnant women. They also offer pregnancy tests, resource material, encouragement and friendship, as well as prenatal classes and referrals to other social services. I have been part of drives in churches that collect items for pregnant women in need. I see pro-life activists giving of their own money and time and organizing drives through Amazon gift registries to help pregnant women in need. Sometimes they just need encouragement and a little help to get through a pregnancy that they didn’t think they could get through.
So if someone tries to tell you that pro-lifers don’t care about the child besides just making sure it’s born alive, that’s not true. And you don’t have to look very hard to find that out for yourself. Besides, in my opinion, saving the life of an innocent human being in and of itself is very noble and worthy, even if you did nothing after. But we do need to do things after, even more than we have before because there will be more women and their little ones in need more than ever.
There is also a need for more compassion and understanding of how difficult it can be to have an unplanned pregnancy.
We also need to be there with open arms for those who are on the other side of an abortion. Many of these women (and men involved in the decision) feel guilt and regret. We need to be there to share with them that there is redemption and forgiveness in a relationship with Christ.
Good word sister!
ReplyDeleteCorey
Thank you!
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