Social Issues

Before I was born, I was given life.

A woman did the most selfless act for me. She chose to carry me in her womb for nine months so I could live. She couldn’t afford to raise me, to keep me – but she chose to carry me. She gave me up for adoption; and from the second day of my life, I had my family. The family that I was made for. I am so immeasurably blessed because of it.

Yet sometimes I can’t help but wonder why. Why me? How did I get this blessed? Because I’ve seen the videos.

You know the ones. They’re all over the news now.

So many people want to ignore them and say that it’s not that big of a deal.

Oh, but it is. Life is a big deal. Choosing life is a big, wonderful deal.

Infanticide is also a big deal. Causing a little one harm and pain is a horrific thing. Just because they don’t yet have a voice doesn’t mean they don’t feel.

I’m a 20-something female “millennial” with a degree in journalism. I’m supposed to be feminist. I’m supposed to believe that because it’s a woman’s body, she can do whatever she pleases with it.

But I can’t. Because when someone who had every opportunity to say no to giving you life chooses life for you, you grow up wanting to fight for life. Wanting to defend precious babies – fetuses – because you know how precious life is. What a true blessing it is.

I just wish I could make it better. I wish I could tell every woman considering abortion that there is a better alternative. A choice where not only will she be greatly rewarded, but she will know that this little baby she chooses life for will have the opportunity to grow up and do great things. There won’t be any more opportunities for videos with people speaking about doing things that are so indescribably awful and utterly evil. There would be life and beautiful – amazing – adoptions.

Of course I can’t understand all circumstances. I can’t truly fathom how scary and uncertain it must be. But I know how precious life is and how grateful I am for it.

And for all of the precious little babies that were never born – I believe that they’re the most special. Because they’re the ones who go straight to the arms of Jesus. They get to dance along golden streets and play hide-and-seek with angels. They’re the ones who have truly seen grace fulfilled. These aborted babies are living in the reality of everything this world could be if only we would choose grace and life.

Some will think that I’m contradicting myself with that. Because how could life down here ever be better than what’s up in heaven? But Jesus is the one who gives us life. He’s the one who forms us in the womb. He’s the one who places us here for His own, special purpose that no one else can do.

“Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. Before you were born I set you apart.” –Jeremiah 1:5

“I Am your Creator. You were in My care before you were born.” –Isaiah 44:2

“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.” –Proverbs 30:8

“Choose life, that you and your descendants may live.” –Deuteronomy 30:19

“It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble.” – Luke 17:2

“’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.’” –Jeremiah 29:11

**Originally posted on my former blog, Guide My Every Way.

As a person who avoids controversial posts like the plague, I decided to write about three things I know: People who love Jesus, America & football.

I rarely post on Facebook, but the night of the Super Bowl last year (Eagles vs. Pats), I wrote about how I love any team that beats Brady (a diehard Saints fan over here…all in good fun!); and how, most of all, I love any team that gives glory to God. To which someone asked me if I love any team that disrespects the National Anthem.

How do you respond gracefully to that? Politics and sports shouldn’t be mixed!

Here’s the thing: I grew up watching football. I’ve always believed that it was the greatest, most entertaining game to watch. I loved it because it’s athletes from all different classes, religions and races – unifying for one cause. A game where people put aside their drastic differences to unite for the whole.

Along with journalism, I studied sport management in college. I had classes with athletes. Several of them went to my church. They became friends – normal people. Not objects.
So when the Eagles made the playoffs, and one of my favorite Florida Gators (whom I shared a class with every other day for a semester), was going to be in the Super Bowl, I was ecstatic. I’m a Giants fan (as well as Saints), so I never thought I’d see the day where I’d be pulling for the Eagles aside from the Gators on the team. But then I started reading about the team and their testimonies. So many of the men on that team are outspoken about Christ.

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