Why I am Pro-Life {No Matter What}

The first statement I want to make to all readers is this verse from Matthew 7:1-3

“Don’t judge, so that you won’t be judged. ² You’ll receive the same judgment you give. Whatever you deal out will be dealt out to you. ³ Why do you see the splinter that’s in your brother’s or sister’s eye, but don’t notice the log in your own eye?

Please, as you’re reading this, don’t bring to mind others who’ve had abortions or have confided in you that they’re considering one. You are not in their shoes. I’ve written this blog post from the position of someone who has considered an abortion, but did not go through with it. I have three amazing children from my husband. I’ve also lost to miscarriage more than nine children in total. You have no idea where someone else is coming from, or what their story is, so please read with an open mind.

I will also state that I am a conservative Christian and I believe the Bible to be both infallible and inerrant. It is the Word of God. I’ve quoted it extensively, in order to share my faith with you and offer you hope. You’ll find no judgement here from me.

1. I am Pro-Life because God is the Creator of all life. He cares deeply about us. We are never just a bunch of cells to Him.

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

Jeremiah 1:5

2. I am Pro-Life because all people have meaning and a purpose.

Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

1 Corinthians 12:27

3. I am Pro-Life because God commands us not to kill.

Thou shalt not kill.

Exodus 20:13

4. I am Pro-Life because no life is wasted, even the disabled.

Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.”

John 5:8

Jesus can heal the broken, for God’s glory. Or He can choose to shine in our weaknesses and bring Himself Glory that way. We may see no physical healing, but we’ll see spiritual gifts and spiritual strengths become increasingly apparent in the physically and mentally disabled. God makes no mistakes. He only makes blessings and each baby is one.

On the left is a photo of my handicapped sister, Melissa and I. My sister died at the age of 25, only having the mental capacity of a toddler. She could speak only six words and she had roughly nine major surgeries during the course of her lifetime, enabling her to walk, sit and stand like the rest of us. She was severely handicapped and required copious amounts of care. I’m so blessed to have been her sister. She’s been in Heaven now for 12 years and I still miss her. I’m so grateful to my Mother for giving birth to her, keeping her and busting her butt to care for her. It was never easy. I saw how hard it was. I saw the strange looks people gave Melissa and my mom. But I also saw Jesus in my sister.

Melissa loved to hug everyone – strangers included! She had a zeal for life and you could not keep that girl from belting out a loud, hearty laugh when she was happy. (It could bust your ear drums at times, I tell you!) She wasn’t racist, had no use for prejudices and was a friend to all who knew her. At her funeral, we were shocked to meet members of the community we’d never met before! It was standing room only, and even then the church was packed. The community all stood up and told story after story about how Melissa had impacted their life.

Melissa couldn’t speak many words – just 6, but she loved to sing and talk to everyone she met. My Mom sat her in the front row at church each week (partly because I made us all sit up front 😉 ) and she wasn’t ashamed of Melissa. Melissa sang along with every hymn, danced to a few of them, too! She participated in life and loved many, many moments of it.

An OB/GYN may have argued that my Mom should’ve aborted that baby, given her likeliness for cerebral palsy among other disorders, but my Mom didn’t give them a chance. I’m glad she didn’t. I love my sister. I wish she were still here. There are so many people she should’ve met and who should’ve met her. She was fantastic!

With all this Planned Parenthood business in the news right now, I just wanted to take a moment to put out another perspective to anyone considering abortion. Maybe you’ve heard your baby has a chance of down syndrome or MS? Maybe something worse is wrong? Hear this: God doesn’t make mistakes. He just doesn’t. He chose you, sweet, sweet woman to bear that child. He chose you to raise that child. He trusts you to bear that vulnerable baby and raise that vulnerable child. The child that the world wants to revile and hate and make fun of?

He trusts you with their care.

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Matthew 25:40

I don’t know about you, but I’d say with all certainty that children are included in that statement.

IF YOU’RE CONSIDERING ABORTION:

Sweet, sweet Mama. Whether you feel sweet or not, that precious life growing inside of you is from God and abortion is not the only option. In God’s eyes, it’s no option at all. There is adoption and there is foster care and there is…You. He will equip you to make the choice, but please, dear Mama…abortion cannot be one of them. You are sweet. And you are precious in His sight. So is that baby growing inside of you, no matter how it got there. I love you and I wish I could wrap my arms around you right now. I know you’re hurting. Pray with me the prayer below. Know that God is with you and He will show Himself to you. You are not alone.

Prayer for a Mother considering abortion (Pray out loud):

Dear Lord, You are our Heavenly Father and You see and know all things. You see my pain right now. You see right into the deepest places of me. I need Your help. I need Your direction. I need Your peace and Your love. Show Yourself to me and clothe me with dignity and grace. The world is judging me, coming at me faster than a speeding bullet it seems sometimes. Help me, Lord. Help me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. + Ephesians 5:2

In Christ,

Mandy