You might ask what qualifies me to stand before you and speak on the topic of destroying life in the womb. The words I am about to speak to you are my words; they are from my heart. I am a father of two daughters and grandfather of two granddaughters.
I have a heart that is saddened when I think of the two lives that were destroyed by the decision of my two daughters to end their second pregnancies by way of, what the world calls, abortion.
Why is my heart sad? It is sad because when I look at the two beautiful granddaughters that I have now, I cannot help but think of the two lives that were destroyed in the wombs of their mothers, that would have been just as beautiful, full of life and able to touch my heart, as well as those around them, with happiness.
When Krystal became pregnant for the first time, she was sixteen years of age. I was the custodial parent as her mother and I were separated at the time. I was the last person to find out about her pregnancy, as she did not know how to tell me. Everyone that she did tell, told her to have an abortion. When we did talk about it, I told her that I did not believe in destroying life in the womb, that she should have the baby, and I would support her in any way I could. It was after this talk that Krystal felt reassured and agreed to carry the pregnancy to term.
Time went on … and nine months later Alissa was born. Both Krystal and Alissa came home to my house, and as I watched that little girl grow and smile a few weeks after leaving the womb, making her cooing sounds, I felt that this was this baby’s way of singing because she was happy as she laid in her cradle. Baby Alissa stole my heart ten years ago and continues to do so.
When I think of how nonchalantly I hear the word abortion go around conversation, I cannot help but think of the precious lives that have been destroyed because of it. I feel that I know I must speak on behalf of those who cannot speak for themselves.
If they could speak, I feel that these words would be some of the words that they would say. “I am in your ‘house’. Just because you don’t want me here doesn’t give you the right to destroy me. You opened the door for me and I entered. I don’t ask for much, just a place to be protected, a place to grow, a little bit of food and while I’m here I will try to fashion myself like you. I hope to have your eyes and your hair colour, your smile and your walk, your beauty and your mannerisms, your voice and your dimples. When you get old, I will look after you. My door will be open for you, and you will be welcome in my house. I wouldn’t want you to be destroyed because you might be an inconvenience or you might be unplanned, for you are fragile and need to have a safe place. If there comes a time when I am not able to look after you, I will find a home for you that will take care of you.”
As I have asked to be part of a right to life organization, and am an advocate for those who are alive in the womb, I have thought more about the two lives that were taken in my daughters’ wombs. I wonder if they suffered much while the procedure for ending their lives was being performed.
My daughters are the same as millions of others who have chosen to use abortion. They are not evil people. I love them with all my heart. I did not have the opportunity to talk to them before they made their decisions to end their pregnancies and if I could have, I would have told them not to be blinded by what the world calls abortion.
I would tell them about the life inside them, and I would repeat the word life, was counting on them to protect and love and cherish them, and that my daughters would get the same back one day from the babies they carried in their wombs. I would tell them that the world is being blinded by the usage of the words abortion, fetus, and “terminate the pregnancy.” I would tell them to look at the daughters they have now and ask how they could destroy a life like their daughters’ lives.
I would tell them that after the baby was born that if they could not cope with raising another child, that there are thousands, perhaps millions of people who would give anything to adopt a child.
I would tell them that I am not trying to force them into anything. I would just want them to see things as they really are.
I would tell them that no one has the right to end a life as the Canadian Bill of Rights reads, “The right of the individual to life, liberty and security.” The world might call the growing fetus something other than a “life” and do its best to blind society as to what a “life” really is and is not.
I would tell them that if they did decide to end the life inside them, that some day when reality “kicks in” and they have realized what they have done, that there would be a guilt in their minds that would be there for some time, if not all their days.
Lastly, and most importantly, I would tell them that “every little life that God allows to be conceived has a plan and a purpose and matchless meaning. Just as we cannot decide which way the wind will blow, we have no right to decide which lives are worth living.”
I would like to conclude my thoughts with a verse found in the Books of Psalms, chapter 139, verses 13 and 14: “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Thank you.
Jim Kaine lives near Guelph, Ont.
