Maddox just turned 4 months old. Every night, I say the same prayer for him: to be protected, healthy, kept safe, and to one day accept Jesus as his Lord and Savior. I am a Christian, and I try my best to put God at the center of my life-every decision. Sometimes, I fail, but for this election, I held true to my values.
When I look at Maddox, I realize how truly pro-life I am. The moment I heard his heart beat at just a few weeks in utero, I would have done anything for him. I cannot support a politician who doesn’t flinch if a woman wants an abortion for unrelated health purposes. I have been told, “There needs to be separation of church and state.” I disagree. The more we push Jesus out, the worse, I believe, our country is getting. “What a woman chooses to do with her body is her right.” What about the baby’s rights? Women have options if they do not want to raise a child, but as a Christian, I view abortions as murder.
When I was about 20 weeks pregnant, I was given the option to test for disorders such as Down Sydrome. I asked around to a few of my friends on whether they got the test or not, as well as their reasons for it. I heard a few mixed answers. One that struck me uncomfortably was, “Yes. I recommend it. That way, you can decide if you want to keep the baby or not.” I was totally left speechless, and then I asked one more person. My friend Brittney. Brittney has been one of my closest friends since childhood, and she is the epitome of a Christian woman. Her response spoke volumes to me: “No, I wasn’t tested. It didn’t matter. If God wanted to give us a child with Down Syndrome, then He obviously thinks we can handle it.” That was all I needed to hear. I spoke with Jesse, and he agreed. There would be no test for me, but abortion would not be an option.
After Maddox’s birth, my 0pinion on the subject was even stronger. I look at him and thank God for this wonderful blessing. I have friends who have adopted and love their children just as much as I love mine. These parents are also thankful to their children’s biological mother for choosing life. That choice not only saved the lives of the babies, but brought a new love to a family.
I’ve often wondered why God allows some women to get pregnant so easily knowing they do not want to have a child, while others pray relentlessly for one-only to never have the chance. I don’t know the answer to that question. I’m not supposed to. Jesse and I became pregnant with Maddox very quickly, and four days after his birth, we knew we wanted more children. The same may not happen again for me as quickly, or at all, but that is out of my hands.
My mom and I have talked ab
out abortion often. She knows my stance, and she sometimes reminds me that I did not feel this way as a teenager or college student. I was fine with abortion, but I also feel people change. I didn’t know then what I know now. I had never heard a heartbeat or had seen a sonogram. I hope one day abortions become illegal again. I know that is a controversial statement, but that is the beauty of being American. I have the right to say what I want to say, just as those who oppose me can do the same.
I believe every life is a blessing from God, and I believe every baby is created in the image of Him. To destroy that breaks my heart, especially knowing there are so many families out there who would love to raise a child.
Ecclesiastes 11:5
Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind or the mystery of a tiny baby growing in its mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the activity of God, who does all things.