Today is "Sanctity of Life" Sunday. I am reflecting today on the fear that entered my life almost 9 years ago. In 2002, only 2 weeks after high school graduation, I found out that I was pregnant. This completely rocked my world. I was devastated. I had 2 vastly different options bombarding me. Fear would either drive me towards one (abortion) or courage would drive me towards the other (parenting/adoption). If it were not for the people in my life who saw value in me still and believed that I had the strength to walk through that time, then I know what the outcome would have been. I am so thankful I don't have to live with that today and my heart floods with compassion for those who do.
In 2 weeks, my son will turn 8 years old. He has brought me so much joy and purpose but I also tasted what it would be like to be without him. I walked through the process of adoption until the very last minute. I know how heart breaking it is to imagine being separated from your child but I also know how absolutely beautiful and sacrificial that choice is. I looked through stacks of family profiles full of people desperately wanting a child. There is someone out there who can love and provide for a child, even if it isn't the one carrying him and that is part of the hope we can offer.
I don't see how we can separate living our lives in service to others, without talking about these lives. The tiniest. The most vulnerable. The foundation for our lives is that we are created with a purpose in the image and likeness of our God! How can we not more boldly relay that message to the women who are scared and facing this decision. If the children of God can't give some meaning and purpose to a woman in this situation, then who in the world can?? I am telling you from experience, that the voices of justification for abortion are far louder than the voices of hope, unless someone is willing to intentionally pour into that person before, during, and after she has this child.
So as I keep walking this life with my children, I want them to value all hurting people. Not just the visible ones with their bruises and malnourished bodies, but the "invisible" ones too. The ones that are tucked away. I hope and pray we can all value these lives more... How in the world can we raise our hands in worship to God who came in human form for the least of these and then walk right past those same people?
So what can we do? Just be ready for the opportunity. Be ready to love. Open our hearts and ears and maybe even our homes... Volunteer at a crisis pregnancy center near you. Donate items. Time. Yourself. And wrap it all in God's perfect love which drives out fear. (1 John 4:18)
"Does our worship have hands? Does it have feet? Does it stand up in the face of injustice?.....or does it fade with our voices?"
115, 000 lives world-wide are taken from the womb each day. 5,000 lives are ending each day because of a lack in clean water and proper sanitation. I want to live just as passionately about each one of those...
I want to end with saying "Thank you" to my entire family and friends who loved me during my brokenness, to my Savior who redeemed me through it and to the Women's Resource Center in Mobile who held my hand every step of the way and helped me see the value in my son's life.
I gave birth to my daughter about a month before my 18th birthday back in 1992. I knew I was going to keep her, no matter what. And I give huge thanks to my grandmothers, who I thought would be angry, but instead accepted me and loved me anyway. They showed me God's love.
ReplyDeleteHer dad and I got married shortly before her first birthday, and will soon be celebrating our 18th wedding anniversary. He's the love of my life, and I thank God for him every day.
I'm proud of you Lindsey. I think more of us need to speak out and tell the world that teenage parents can do a good job parenting, as long as we let God help us. And the girls who are facing these hard decisions need our help.
Thanks for your story. :)