The following short article was sent to The Interim as the personal story of the author which, she says, “I wish to share in the hope that perhaps it may influence a young girl to choose life.”
“It is essential,” she goes on to say, “that the public remain informed of the value of life from conception and of the characteristics of the developing fetus at various stages.”
I recently attended a Life Chain…where a woman yelled, “How many children are you willing take in?” It disturbed me deeply to realize that people were viewing abortion as the only alternative to being unable to raise a child. For this reason I feel compelled to share my personal story.
I am neither a writer nor a public speaker but a young woman with dreams and goals that may resemble yours. Included in these dreams are a husband and children. Four, I thought, four children would be nice. Although it seems a reasonable expectation, it was the beginning of a journey I did not choose to take.
I married a wonderful man and we were anxious to have a baby. After undergoing numerous tests and three surgical operations the doctors reported that I could not have children. Their tone was matter-of-fact and their explanations empty. My heart was heavy with sadness and my arms longed for a baby to hold.
My husband and I were confident we were meant to have children. God would not have instilled in our hearts such a strong desire to become parents if this was not His plan. Our minds repeatedly played scenes of opening presents on Christmas morning with everyone in their pajamas, of family dinners and even staying up all night nursing a sick child.
It never occurred to us to remain a childless couple so we placed our names on the adoption list. With a four-year wait looming ahead we occupied ourselves with decorating a nursery and gathering items for our hope chest.
Since that time life has changed for us in the most blessed way. We have a beautiful baby boy who is the absolute center and heart of our lives. It has been a full circle but our dreams have come true because one girl chose life.
I do not pretend to have experienced her grief or the difficulty in making her decision. I do know that our lives have been forever enriched by her choice and I applaud her courage and commitment to life. Nine months may seem an eternity to carry a child but I am convinced that abortion would rank highest among life’s regrets.
I am appalled when I hear that people attempt consolation of the distressed mother with “Don’t think of it as a baby.”
That baby is learning how to talk. That baby is absolutely amazed to see a bird or a butterfly and laughs and gets so excited when daddy comes home from work each night. He is very real and everything we ever dreamt of. We share the knowledge that we cannot predict how we will choose the hurdles in life but that there are alternatives to just jumping. There will always be heartfelt praise and thanksgiving for one girl who chose life and adoption as an option.
