Sunday is the March for Life in Chicago. For the past three years I have participated in the march that takes place in my community. This year our community is joining the Chicago March for Life. I wasn’t sure that I wanted to ride the bus into Chicago, and so I have thought about this. Why do I participate?
As a nurse I believe with my whole heart that abortion is damaging to women. Early in my career I refused to participate in an abortion that took place in the hospital where I was employed. Besides the fact that medical people were killing a human being, I felt that our unit had insufficient resources to help a woman through the emotional impact.
The story of Hagar in the Bible has always caused me to pause and muse on God’s care for a single woman who became pregnant–through Sarai’s plan to achieve a child. Twice an angel was sent to rescue Hagar.
The angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, the spring on the way to Shur. And he said, “Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from and where are you going?” She said, “I am fleeing from my mistress Sarai.” The angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress and submit to her.” The angel of the Lord also said to her, “I will surely multiply your offspring so that they cannot be numbered for multitude” . . .
So she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, “You are a God of seeing,” for she said, “Truly here I have seen him who looks after me.” Genesis 16:7-10, 13
Later when Hagar’s son was about seventeen years old, Hagar was sent away by Sarai and Abraham. She and the boy were out of water in the desert and an angel directed her to a well. The Bible demonstrates God’s care for all women, in all circumstances. As Christians we can be God’s hands.
One of the arguments for abortion is that if we defund Planned Parenthood women will have unsafe abortions. And yet many of Planned Parenthood’s clinics do not meet the safety standards for a surgical center.
I recently read a study that was done in Chile after they made abortion illegal. Did hospital admissions for abortion complications increase or decrease? Hospital admissions decreased and maternal mortality decreased. Chile has better statistics on maternal mortality than the United States! You can read the article here.
World Magazine includes an interview with an obstetrician. She was asked about rape victims. Would she perform an abortion for a rape victim? She shared an experience that she had with a teenager that was pregnant by incest. Here is what she said:
So we talked with the girl and her family. She said, ‘Oh, you mean you’d kill the baby? I don’t want to kill the baby. No, no, no. I just want you to stop Grandpa from hurting me.” . . .
When you say there is a pregnancy as a result of incest, there’s usually some horrible abuse that must be diagnosed and treated. To kill the victim doesn’t really treat the crime.*
I am not in favor of protests in front of an abortion clinic. I am glad that for the most part the approach has changed to prayer and sidewalk counseling. Clinics like Informed Choices and Caris, in my area, provide support for women that are pregnant and in a difficult place or life situation.
The Christian community can do more. Women that are single parents need help. Children in foster care need to be adopted. We can all increase our attentiveness to women and children in need.
UPDATE: The cold temperature in Chicago and wind chill factor predicted for tomorrow is going to be hazardous. Prayer for this event is welcomed!
SUNDAY: We encountered brutal wind chill but all were in good spirits and the march went well!
Camilla Hersh, “The Happiness Specialist”, World Magazine, January 23, 2016, p. 29
Linking with A Little R & R, WholeHearted Home, So Much at Home, Tell it to Me Tuesday, Titus 2sday, Tuesdays with a Twist, the Homemaking Party, Word of God Speak, Grace & Truth, Essential Fridays, Weekend Whispers and Faith Filled Friday.
Thank you. The March for Life is such a worthy cause. You’ve explained why beautifully. I appreciate the way you approached a difficult topic with sensitivity and gentleness.
Thank you for linking up with Grace and Truth.
When I’m in Heaven… in the not-distant future, b/c of my brain and body issue and my age… I’m looking forward to seeing my sisters and brothers, nieces and nephews. My brothers and sisters were torn out by mom and dad together, and the nieces and nephews from my sisters and nieces. Anyhow, focusing on the Lord for the family friends clear back into the 1940s to 1990s. Always makes me rejoice. Could tell too much to too many! AND my parents came to the Lord, a stretch of time before they were in Heaven, and sisters and nieces have also come to the Lord in spite of their background. So, God is faithful and kind and willing to touch hearts. It’s a MIRACLE that I was not aborted by my mom. The Lord must have protected and kept me. He’s so kind!!!
What joy lies ahead, to be with the Lord and family members. I pray that the God of all comfort will wrap you in his love as you face physical changes. I’m so glad that your parents accepted God’s love and grace. Thank-you for visiting, Joanne! Blessings!
Praying for the safety of all who participate, Carol. Excellent post.
Thank-you June. It was bitter cold but there was a large turn-out of people in good spirits. All went well. I ended up wearing a ski mask to protect my face and used little hand warmers that another participant gave me. Students for Life had a good turn out–it is wonderful to see these college students carrying signs with the words, We Are the Pro-Life Generation.
Thank you for your bravery. Not many can write openly about abortion. And thank you for adding the testimony on incest. It saddens me that there are “exceptions”. In my mind, abortion is unacceptable in all circumstances. Why punish the unborn child for the crimes of another? Blessings to you!