Thinking of the babies
The other day I realized how preoccupied I’ve been this pregnancy. Since the day we found out, it’s been one thing after the other happening in both our larger world and smaller family life. The days of knowing the exact size of the baby every week, recording the pregnancy milestones, keeping a pregnancy calendar, and having my husband take weekly bump pictures felt lost; the other day I had to whip out the baby center calculator because I couldn’t remember how far along I was! I expect that’s pretty normal through subsequent pregnancies. But, the Lord used my unawareness to shock me with emotion last week. As I sat at my 16 week appointment and heard our little one’s heartbeat, I was completely swept away with emotion. That little baby, safe and protected in my womb. I couldn’t help but think of all of those babies who are not as safe, and are threatened every day by the horrific killing of abortion. As our world is turned upside down, and the feelings of disunity, hatred and division seem rampant with no end in sight pending November; I can’t forget the babies. I can’t forget to speak out about the injustice of abortion, and agree that any killing only leads to more killing, as any injustice leads to more injustice. I know God was reminding me through my unborn baby last week, to use my voice in any way that I can for those voiceless babies. We all have deep convictions shaped by our experiences, and my experiences as an anti-abortion activist have shaped mine. I don’t want us to forget. I want to encourage us to fight against injustices, and the right to life for every human being. Yes, things may only get worse in our world before they get better, but we must never give up hope. As we pray for the protection of our black brothers and sisters, let’s not be afraid to also think of the babies. We can all fight for the injustices we believe in, and help encourage each other along the way. As I lie in bed wondering, where is that fire in the pro-life movement? What can we learn from those around the world who are passionately fighting for what they believe in? How can we convince the media to show the truth about abortion? I remember the proverb, “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will be established.” Proverb 20:21. We must never stop praying, courageously fighting, and doing our small part in these earthly battles. But remember, “The victory belongs to the Lord.” Proverbs 20.
Praying for peace and joy for all,
Alex
"But I feel that the greatest destroyer of peace today is abortion, because it is a war against the child - a direct killing of the innocent child - murder by the mother herself. And if we accept that a mother can kill even her own child, how can we tell other people not to kill one another? How do we persuade a woman not to have an abortion? As always, we must persuade her with love, and we remind ourselves that love means to be willing to give until it hurts. Jesus gave even his life to love us. So the mother who is thinking of abortion, should be helped to love - that is, to give until it hurts her plans, or her free time, to respect the life of her child. The father of that child, whoever he is, must also give until it hurts. By abortion, the mother does not learn to love, but kills even her own child to solve her problems. And by abortion, the father is told that he does not have to take any responsibility at all for the child he has brought into the world. That father is likely to put other women into the same trouble. So abortion just leads to more abortion. Any country that accepts abortion is not teaching the people to love, but to use any violence to get what they want. That is why the greatest destroyer of love and peace is abortion. " - Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta
Related Booklist Recommendations:
