Showing posts with label Pro-Life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pro-Life. Show all posts

Choice or Child? Ask your mother and your father

Exploring the value of your own dignity in life sets the foundation to understand your beliefs about an unborn child. To "ask your mother and your father", a thought experiment, provides an opportunity to look deeply at what circumstances lead up to your conception and eventual birth (if it can be known). Were you a child who was wanted?  Did you have parents or loved ones who modeled and expressed consistently from your earliest moments of development, what it meant to be lovingly committed to your care, even during life's adversities? Knowing this about yourself may cause you to understand in part the view you hold about the sanctity of a child's life.  And having a deep and examined conviction about your own value to others and yourself, will likely prick the conscience to action one way or the other.

The National Abortion Federation promotes the following points (among others):

  • "Throughout the history of legal abortion, anti-abortion extremists have used propaganda, misinformation, and outright lies to dissuade women from choosing abortion...
  • Most women base their decision on several factors, the most common being lack of money and / or  readiness to start or expand their families due to existing responsibilities...
  • Learn to stand your ground when discussing this important issue, whether at school, at work or in your place of worship...
  • At your school, make sure student health services provides Emergency contraception..."

Whatever the cause individually or collectively, to drive the NAF, it certainly is not toward the collective dignity of the person.

The miracle of a child is self-evident and needs no propaganda.  The value of a child exceeds any material gain. The spirituality and innocence of a child extends into a dimension measured only by the human heart.   The fellowship of a child with peers is life enriching, and within the context of school (and elsewhere) worthy of our greatest attention and protection.

When you and I are deeply aware (emotionally, spiritually and psychologically) of our own dignity in the presence of reminders given by the unfolding life of a child, there is no choice.  It becomes clear to our core, the fabric of our being, that a child is the reflection of our mutual beginnings, entitled to all of the love we have learned to give, or all of the love we have yet to learn.



Sanctity Of Life

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Teaching a four and six year old about (dignity and miracle of) life

Each day parents are faced with issues of our time related to education, the economy, changing social norms and then the big one, dignity of life.  As parents it is important to take life’s challenges, show confidence in our Lord (John 16:33) and put issues in “digestible” terms for our children.


Around the dinner table, my daughters and I really, really enjoy a meal with white rice.  Recently, as we sat chatting about the day’s events, I recalled news in my mind on the right to life issue.  In a flash of inspiration, I picked-up a single grain and directed the conversation to how “Magnificent you are to me and how much I love you.” Each of my daughters’ eyes widened to hear my enthusiasm.  From there I proceed to reflect for them, “How magnificent is God our Father and what a miracle it is to be created by Him from something smaller than this grain of rice.”  By this point, I had the full attention of my girls as I held a single grain up with an out stretched hand and proceeded to point, “God is so wonderful, He made you, and you and me”.


“Really, Papa?” my oldest questioned.  “Yes.” I responded.  I continued, “And, then from there you became the size of the nail on your little pinkie.”  I pointed to each one’s little finger with the precision and gentleness as if to poke the Pillsbury dough boy in the tummy and then proceeded to shake my youngest daughter’s little finger with vigor, resulting in giggles all the way around.  From there, I persisted as their little faces reflected with amazement what their minds began to conceptualize and marvel at in the comparison of their current size with that little grain of white rice; which lead to some discussion on who they will become, “Someday, as big as me!”


“Wow!” exclaimed my oldest, jumping up to her little feet, as if to make herself stretch a little taller at this “teaching moment” to get there a little faster.


The dinner conversation was now theirs.  “Papa, were we smaller than that?” my oldest pointed to a stray half-grain of rice. “Yep…” I said confidently.  Then my youngest, grasping her own little finger, “Was I smaller than that?”  “Yep…” I said nodding my head again with a smile, “Can you believe it?”


That brief period of time over dinner, for me set the foundation for my daughters to grasp just how miraculous they are, and how their very existence fills me with great pleasure and love. From a tiny grain of rice is born the idea (albeit not fully formed for some years to come) that something so small (and smaller) can become so big and wonderful.  I am sure there will be many dinners that will challenge me to find creative ways to infuse the ideas of dignity and value packaged in such small miracles.  And, so will continue the education on the dignity and miracle of life.



The Miracle of Life - "The “Miracle of Life” shows us how amazing and wonderful the gift of “Life” is that God has blessed us with. Through incredible ultrasound video and photos we can actually see this miracle as we watch a baby develop in the womb. This video will make a great...illustration when you are preaching on the topics of abortion and sanctity of life" (Hyper Pixels Media).
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Your Child's Potential

A congruent life is one where we are each able to see reality as clearly as we are able, and make decisions about our lives within the context of our respective belief systems, and understand to the degree possible what the implications are for the present time and as far as possible into the future, and accept responsibility for those decisions not only for ourselves but all those who are influenced by our decisions. But what if you or I is having difficulty making a decision? Then, where do we turn? Usually, one will turn to a trusted friend, family member, pastor, priest, rabbi, doctor, therapist or some other trusted source. If we are alike in some way, we turn to God for direction to make decisions both temporal and those that will outlive ourselves.

If one seeks counseling services, one may turn to a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Psychologist (Ph. D.) or Marriage Family Therapist (LMFT). It is helpful to know the position of each profession when seeking services, especially if the issue is related to a child who is not yet born.

The National Association of Social Workers state, in part: "Social workers have long been involved in advocating for reproductive choice for all women. The NASW Code of Ethics guides social workers to promote clients' self-determination. Standard 1.02. NASW’s policy statement, Family Planning and Reproductive Health states, Self-determination means that without government interference, people can make their own decisions about sexuality and reproduction. It requires working toward safe, legal, and accessible reproductive health care services, including abortion services, for everyone" (NASW, 2006 - http://www.naswdc.org/ ).

The American Psychological Association recently released a report that states in part: "The best scientific evidence published indicates that among adult women who have an unplanned pregnancy the relative risk of mental health problems is no greater if they have a single elective first-trimester abortion than if they deliver that pregnancy" (http://www.apa.org/).

Marriage and Family Therapists: Their website does not site a position on abortion or self-determination. Studies sited are available only to members.

When making a decision about your child who is not yet born, it is not difficult to have fear result in rationalizing abortion (the termination or ending of a child's life) as being as valid as childbirth (http://www.prochoice.org/get_involved/pro_choice_proud.html#choice).

The long term implications of a child's birth are far reaching, and may result in changes that cannot even be dreamed of. Give your child and yourself a chance to become something more than we can imagine. Imagine the Potential (CatholicVote.com). The good Lord is calling each of us, me, you, my children and yours to his will. God has open arms of forgiveness and will provide grace, knowledge and will for direction when you are ready to be healed.

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