Now Choose Life, so That You and Your Children May Live
January 22, 2012 by Lillie
This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. ~ Deuteronomy 30:19-20 (NIV)
On January 22, 1973, the Supreme Court chose death and made abortion legal in the United States.
Since that day, nearly 55 million children created by God in His image have been murdered before ever being given a chance at life.
This joyous story of a reunion of a birth mother with her daughter conceived in rape and given up for adoption is unlikely to happen today. Children conceived in rape are routinely aborted, as if the children should be punished for the crimes of their fathers.
Added 1/23/12: I learned about a pro-life advocate who herself was conceived in rape. Rebecca Kiessling has a dramatic story to tell that changes hearts and minds about exceptions to abortion.
Through the years, I have written a number of posts about abortion and the sanctity of life, especially on the anniversary of the Supreme Court decision that made the lives of unborn children less valuable under the law than the convenience of their mothers. Here are links to some of them:
- Absolute Truth vs Personal Opinion
- Abortion: Legalized Murder
- A Thirty-Six Year Tragedy
- The Most Basic Human Right: Life
- Slavery and Abortion – Moral Relatives
- The Case Against Abortion
O Lord Jesus Christ, who dost embrace children with the arms of thy mercy, and dost make them living members of thy Church; protect unborn children from being murdered in the womb; turn the hearts of lawmakers and people to end the evil abomination of abortion; and allow every child created by thee to fulfill thy plan for their life; through thy merits, O merciful Saviour, who with the Father and the Holy Ghost livest and reignest one God, world without end. Amen. (adapted from the 1928 Book of Common Prayer
photo credit: Caitlinator
It is really injustice to the unborn children I think. In Asian countries there is a belief that if a girl child is born then it is a curse to the families. The issue of death of female child is major in these countries. As soon as the couples come to know that they are going to give birth to the girl child then they opt for abortion. I think this is a serious crime and this needs to stopped at one point. Even when governments of these countries have imposed laws against this, due to corruption it still prevails. Everyone should be made aware that this is a sheer piece of injustice.
Mark,
It is heartbreaking to know that the life of a female baby is considered to be so worthless.
Hi Mark, I’m from an Asian country and not all Asian countries have that belief, although I am aware that there are other Asian countries who still practice that. Sadly, it’s inhumane. But no matter the location, there are still people who are into it despite religious or whatever beliefs. I hope they would realize what a blessing it is to have that child.
Shyr,
Thanks for clarifying. We don’t want to stereotype or generalize.
Wow a really great piece. I have also time and again felt that if a woman is in a relationship with a man and falls pregnant she must give birth to the child rather than choose abortion. But I feel if she is raped, then abortion is the best option. But after reading your post and watching the video you uploaded I feel that this belief of mine was totally wrong and yes, abortion in any case is an unethical law. Thank you for opening my eyes to the reality that was unknown to me.
Alvin,
I am so glad that my post showed you the truth and changed your mind. I have added a link to the post to the website of a pro-life advocate who herself was conceived in rape. She has a powerful story that changes many hearts about this subject.
Agree with you Lillie, people always think that child conceived in rape is an unwanted child and treat him/her as a punishment for their father by aborting them. But like you even I think that it is the injustice done to the child. These children should be given one chance to come in this beautiful world. But it is sad to hear that very few people think in this way. They should be made aware that there is no harm in bringing this child in the world.
Rhio,
People often say the woman who is a victim of rape shouldn’t be punished for being the victim of a crime. However, the mother’s “punishment” only has to last nine months, while punishing the child destroys a life forever.
I pray for an end to abortion every day. I also pray that one day people who advocate abortions will have their eyes opened and they will see that abortion is murder.
Dawn,
I believe the prayers of so many people are beginning to work. Texas defunded Planned Parenthood and requires that any woman considering an abortion be told exactly what stage of development her baby is and be shown a sonogram. It is estimated that up to 95% of women who are given the facts before an abortion change their mind and choose life.
I remember “thou shall not kill” of the Ten Commandments of GOD. Even the times before, it is written for us to opt LIFE above anything else in this world. Whatever the circumstances, change is always constant. Let us learn to deal well whatever bad incidents happened.
Olga,
As you say, bad things happen all the time. We have to make the best of the situation. Killing a baby may be the easy answer for some, but it is not the moral answer.
It just kills me inside to see how frequently the mothers get their abortion done. I mean its always said a mother feels much more pain if her child is in any sort of trouble. Then how can she just end a life which has not even seen this world? I hope and pray that one day government too realizes that this is not right and make abortion illegal.
Catrien,
I am encouraged that abortions are slowly going down. I’ve heard some statistics that the younger generation is becoming more pro-life, perhaps because they grew up in a time when they could easily have been aborted and value life more as a result.
I am a supporter of abortion in cases where the woman’s life is at risk, the parents are not old enough to have a baby or where the baby born maybe deformed. Why cause problems for the two, when the matter can be taken care of. One of my girl-friends was pregnant with my baby when we were around 15, but then as we would not be able to take care as we were kids ourselves, her parents decided to clean her up. I have no regrets as it was the right thing to be done. Today, I am a successful lawyer thanks to not having that burden on my shoulder and she also has moved to be a model, things we would never be able to do, straddled with a baby.
Paul,
You are a lawyer; your girlfriend is a model. But your baby is DEAD! God rest his or her soul.
I think Lillie, like you and me there are many people who think that child is a gift of God. But I don’t understand why most of these people think in opposite way about the child when the child is conceived in rape. This discrimination has to be brought to end. They should start thinking with much broader mind. Thanks for posting this article and making aware people about this injustice!
Mitchell,
My heart aches when I think of babies tossed out in the garbage (which actually occurs in far too many abortion clinics). They are human beings created by the Lord of the Universe, and they are treated as unwanted debris. God help us to bring a stop to this!
I am so happy that you are preaching God’s Word of life. Abortion is a big debate that is on the world over, with many people accepting the culture of death and feeling it is perfectly okay to have an abortion. While others may agree or not have any problems about abortion, I see it like you do to be a crime. I think abortion is a crime against human dignity and life and am against it. Thanks for showing the light in this world of darkness.
Thank you, James, for standing up for the culture of life.
As far as my opinion is concerned, I am a little both sided regarding this matter. I mean truly children are a gift from god but just think about the mothers for a minute. Do you really think they just go for abortion without feeling anything for their child? Some of them might be having financial problems, some might be underage. Everyone wants a baby. Its just the life we live makes it difficult for people these days to be ready to take up the responsibility of a new one.
Collins,
Is the convenience of the mother more important than the life of the baby? If the mother is unable or unwilling to raise the child, there are many families who can’t have children who would be delighted to adopt the baby and give him or her a loving home. Of course, the mother would make a sacrifice by carrying the baby to term, then giving up the child. But isn’t that so much better than simply murdering the baby because the mother doesn’t want it?
Now a days the count of aborting the babies has raise to a new level due to not just increasing number of rape cases but also rise in live in relationships I think. Also I think that today’s women are more career oriented and due to this they tend to conceive babies in their late 30′s. They think that it is highly dangerous to have babies at the peak time of their careers and so they opt for abortion. They should be made aware that by doing this they are giving punishment to the innocent child.
John,
I think the main reason there are so many abortions is that unborn babies aren’t recognized as living people. The abortion providers and pro-choice advocates have worked hard to convince us the baby is just a lump of tissue, a fetus, something other than a living being. When mothers seeking abortions are shown sonograms of their babies, up to 90% of them decide against killing their unborn children. Because the sonogram shows that that lump of tissue is really a living human being, a real person.
A very interesting article and I whole heartedly embrace the stupidity of destroying a life through abortion. A comment of contention though is that crime statistics have reduced proportionally due to giving future mothers from broken homes or with little support to bring up their children responsibly the option not to proceed with their pregancy. This once again, however, comes down to education – prevention is better than cure. Thank you again for sharing….
….when I say stupidity – I mean that I am anti-abortion!!
Duncan,
Thanks for making your position clear.
Duncan,
I understand what you are saying about mothers unprepared to raise children. Prevention is the first choice, but when that fails, adoption is a much better option that abortion. Just because a woman gives birth to a child doesn’t mean she has to raise that child. Many loving families are desperately waiting for a child to love.
Great Post Lillie With a very serious thing that should be discuss and not just in a blog post this is something that serious that should be discuss by the senior people who have the authority to make things better for our childrens!
David,
I hope that by having this conversation on my blog, readers will be motivated to take action, such as contacting their representatives to change the law.
It is true that in many Asian countries, going to born baby girls are not considered luck or good. I observed families opting for abortion just due to the same reason. It is very sad what these communities think about having girls.
qaswer,
It’s always tragic when human life is not valued, and unfortunately, there are many such instances.
One of the things I found most contradictory about pro-choice mentality is that when it’s a wanted pregnancy it’s a baby but when it’s an unwanted pregnancy it’s a fetus.
Makes no sense to me.
bluestocking,
Makes no sense to me, either. And strangely many people who are pro-abortion are also anti-death penalty. They don’t want the state to execute someone convicted of a heinous crime, but they don’t object to the murder of an innocent unborn baby.
I totally agree with Rhio!
stella,
I’m encouraged by the enthusiastic pro-life position of you and other commenters.
Making abortion legal would make human life more miserable. If human society is the best social establishment then we have to really think as there is no concept of abortion in animals
M,
Tragically, abortion is legal in the United States. You make a good point about animals not aborting their babies.
Such a really good blog which is telling the peoples the truth.I hope you will never stop your good work…!
Sam,
I will always speak out for the sanctity of life and my Christian faith.
Life in itself is a great blessing and the issue of abortion is still a taboo to other countries. I am saddened for those who opt abortion as the solution for their problem or some matters about cultures. I think we should spread and make the world understand that children and the unborn ones are a blessing and can do much about the future.
Jane,
I can’t understand how anyone can value their own convenience more than the life of an innocent baby.
It is truly sad to hear female foeticide. It is prevalent in many countries. But people who have the power to choose life, should not consciously opt for this. I don’t know why it is even legal.
Mani,
Killing of any unborn baby–female or male–is sad, but it is more common for female babies.