Abortion: I Saw It Legalized

T~

I am sitting across from Krista at the Starbuck’s Coffee Shop in Fry’s Food Store.  Last week we met with two friends and had a lengthy discussion about abortion, bullying, and mental illness.

Krista has an unusual take on abortion.  She believes it is taking a life because we as a society believe conception begins at life.  Her justification for this is the sadness and sense of loss that accompanies a miscarriage and for some people an abortion.  Read her post; it is outstanding.

 When a woman or couple tries to get pregnant a missed menstrual cycle is a time of great rejoicing.  A day goes by.  A week.  A month, and at that point one is considered six weeks pregnant.  Many women start telling their friends as soon as the home pregnancy test is positive.

The Bible has a lot to say about an unborn child which is why as Christ followers take a stand that it is wrong.  Take for instance when Mary went to visit her relative Elizabeth.  Mary was barely pregnant with the Messiah and Elizabeth was six months along with John the Baptist, who as an adult would prepare the way for the coming of his cousin, Jesus.

Luke 1:41 “When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting the baby leaped in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.  (New International Version)  

Also in The  Psalms,  “In your mother’s womb, I knew you.”

If you are a Christian and reading this, then you know the scriptures.

I remember in 1974 I had a friend in high school that had an abortion. The Supreme Court had ruled that abortion was legal in 1973. She was pregnant with twins and we were both eighteen. I visited after the procedure, but we did not talk about what happened.  She was my friend and needed me.  Period.  We briefly considered going to Northern Arizona University together.  In the end I went to a Christian College and lost touch. I ran into her years later.  She was happily married with two or three kids.

I, on the other hand, was trying desperately hard at that time to become pregnant.  After two bouts of ovarian cancer and numerous chemotherapy problems, I was married and obsessing about becoming fulfilled, as a wife and mother.  I remember my husband asking me, “Why can’t WE just be enough?”  I just couldn’t BE enough without a child.  My destiny was to be a mother.

  I became pregnant and at fourteen weeks lost a set of twins.  I never cried so hard in my life as I was put under anesthesia to have my uterus scraped to make sure no products of conception remained.  I became pregnant again and lost the baby, and again, and again.  Finally after four pregnancies and five babies my pregnancy “took” and I delivered a healthy nine pound, eight ounce boy.  Two years later, we became parents again, when our daughter was born. 

I had the right to choose to become a mother.  Roe versus Wade is a done deal.  I may not like it, but I am choosing to focus on one person at a time  with eternal value  and not the issue that divides our country.