If you have looked at a newspaper, turned on the TV, opened Facebook or Twitter, or seen any of the myriad online news sites, you already know that today is the 40th anniversary of Roe-v-Wade.
Right up front, let me say that this post is not about making an argument against abortion. There are a lot of people who are way smarter than I am who have written brilliantly on the topic (Here’s one by Randy Alcorn). This is not a morality post. This is not a political post. This is a sad post.
My heart is broken…and breaking.
My heart breaks for what our country celebrates.
While I am certainly opposed to abortion, I can understand the arguments those under the Pro-Choice banner make. I disagree with them, but I understand their position.
What I don’t understand is how there is celebration whenever someone uses the phrase “a woman’s right to choose.” Crowds go crazy. People clap, whoop, and holler as if their team just won the Super Bowl. I don’t understand. My heart sinks every time it happens.
No matter what side of the debate you are on, how can we not agree that this is a tragedy? This is horrific. This is not “the way it should be.” At best, this is incredibly sad. It is the furthest thing from something to celebrate.
Have you ever talked to someone who has had an abortion? They aren’t celebrating. Most won’t even talk about it. Those who will – even if they believe it was the right decision – are deeply somber as they discuss it. Why? Because their hearts are breaking too.
My heart is breaking for women who are pregnant…and didn’t plan to be.
I can’t imagine what they go through. The societal pressure to have an abortion. The easy, private, and quick access to a procedure that will “get rid of the problem.” The knowledge that a decision to carry the baby to term will be met with just as many confused or disapproving glances as supportive ones.
It is so easy to choose abortion. It is so accepted to choose abortion. It is so “normal” to choose abortion.
It is so hard to choose life. The admission. The shame…real and perceived. The responsibility. The disruption. And for so many, the lack of support.
No. I can’t imagine the pressure, internally and externally. And my heart breaks.
And yes, my heart breaks for the lives lost.
55,000,000. For the record, that number did not come from a Pro-Life group. It came from this article on MSN.com this morning. Wikipedia simply says “roughly 50 million.” In any event, here are the numbers put into perspective:
- 1,375,000 each year.
- 114,583 each month.
- 3,767 each day.
- 157 each day.
- One life every nine minutes.
One or two abortions took place while you were reading this.
And my heart broke.
Photo Credit: Creative Commons – Patrícia Soransso
guy_faux says
February 13, 2013 at 12:52 PMThe reason that people “whoop and holler” about the phrase “a woman’s right to choose” is because it’s symbolic of the break down of discrimination and oppression of a human subset. In this case that of women. The way that you present it makes you look like a bigot.
Joyce Glass says
January 23, 2013 at 6:56 AMKeith, I felt the same exact way as you describe in your post. I could not believe my eyes. People cheering, because they want to murder an innocent child legally.
I am like you, and do not agree with abortion. However, I can see their points. But the biggest point they are missing is the value of Human Life! God does not want women raped and get pregnant, but it happens. God knew it would happen and can bless a child as the product of rape or any other type of undesired pregnancy.
James Robinson is a product of rape, and the world would be hurting without him if his mother had chosen to abort. For those of you, who do not know who James Robinson is, he is an minister, has a TV program called Life Today. They support many major mission projects – helping people get food and water in countries where it is hard. Getting children shoes that do not have any. Getting children, women and girls out of slavery.
This is what we are doing when we abort children. We are short changing God’s ability to show up in this child’s life and do something amazing.
On top of that there are many couples who would love to adopt a child, but have not been able too.
As well as, what about the idea of not having sex outside the bounds of marriage. God gave that requirement for many valid reasons. Abortion usually is not an issue for a married couple. ( I am sure there are many exceptions to that thought.)
Keith Ferrin says
January 23, 2013 at 4:09 PMThanks Joyce. This issue is so hard on so many levels. And there are many, many stories like James Robinson. And sadly, many more that will never be told…
guy_faux says
February 13, 2013 at 12:54 PMWhat if Hitler had been aborted? That would have been good for humanity… right?
Ryan Sprague says
January 23, 2013 at 6:30 AMThanks for writing from this perspective. Keep it up.
Keith Ferrin says
January 23, 2013 at 4:08 PMThanks Ryan. Hard issue. Tempted to “avoid” it…but couldn’t.