Through the Eyes of a Child

For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb…Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be. ~ Psalm 139:13,16

 

 “Mommy, did you know that some mommies kill their babies while they’re still in their tummies?” my six-year-old daughter, Elise, asked as we walked across the church parking lot.

I stopped in my tracks. “Who told you that?” I asked, dumbfounded.

“We learned about it in GA’s tonight,” Elise, explained. “Did you know that Mommy? Huh?”

Stunned, I quickly tried to gather my thoughts. I’d just picked up my kids after our Wednesday night church service and hadn’t expected to be greeted with such a jarring question from my first-grader. GA’s is short for Girls in Action, a missions group for girls. Should a six-year-old know about the atrocity of abortion? After sending up a quick prayer for wisdom I answered my daughter. “Yes, Elise, I did know that.”

“But Mommy, why would anybody want to kill their little baby?” She was almost in tears.

I struggled for words as I buckled my three-year-old son, Jacob, into his car seat. At her age, she couldn’t begin to comprehend the complexities of such a question. As she climbed into her seat, her big brown eyes looked intently into mine. She wanted an answer.

“Huh, Mommy? Why would they want to do that?”

I cleared my throat. “Well, sweetie,” I said nervously, “some mommies can’t take care of their babies and think the baby will be better off if they’re never born.”

I didn’t know what else to say.

“But Mommy, that’s not right. That poor little baby didn’t do anything wrong.”  

“I know honey, you’re exactly right. Some people just don’t understand that.”

We sat in silence the rest of the way home while I thought about my first-grader’s strong reaction to abortion. When seen through the eyes of an innocent child there are no gray areas—only black and white. But until that moment, I didn’t realize how un-phased I was by the actual act of abortion. I’d allowed myself to see it as an ethical issue, not the act of murder, as Elise did. 

When I was younger, I wasn’t sure if abortion was all that bad. I’d never really heard it addressed much in the church while growing up, so I didn’t have a strong opinion about it either way. Not until my struggle with infertility did I become a strong proponent for choosing life for all babies. I saw the importance of every single child created in the womb and understood that life is formed at the moment of conception. I also saw how God is the Master Creator who has a grand plan for each of us and we hinder His work when our will collides with His masterpiece.

There was a sermon I heard about a while back on the subject of abortion. In it, the pastor noted God may have already created the person who could cure cancer and rid the world of this horrible disease, but that life may have been snuffed out through abortion. Wow. What an eye-opening concept.

There are women I’ve met who’ve had abortions. Crushed with regret, they wonder who that child may have become. My heart breaks for them.

I’ve also seen the joy brought about through adoption. I know several families who’ve been blessed beyond measure by their beloved children, forever grateful to the mothers who decided to bring this little life into the world. The courage it must have taken to carry their babies to full term, only to give them away, is mind-boggling.

Several young girls I know have gotten pregnant and chosen to keep the precious life within them. Most days are a struggle as they take care of their babies, but none have regretted their decision to choose life. Even though their circumstances are much more difficult, they’ve said they couldn’t imagine life without that child. These mothers are courageous every day.

None of these scenarios is an easy one to deal with. They all have life-long consequences. 

I don’t say any of this to judge, only to make you think. I would hate to face such a difficult situation and can only imagine the turmoil it entails. If you live with the guilt of having had an abortion, you don’t have to. Confess it to God and ask His forgiveness. According to 1 John 1:9, if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us and purify us from all unrighteousness, no matter how big or how small. He doesn’t want us to live a life weighed down with guilt and misery. He came so that we can experience an abundant life.

Maybe you’re in this situation right now, wondering how you can resolve your seemingly impossible circumstances. Know that God cares and loves you and your baby. Period. He has a grand plan for both of you. It may not look exactly like you’ve pictured it, but God can redeem any situation to make Himself glorified and give you both a life far beyond what you can even imagine.

Have you seen God work through an unplanned pregnancy to bring about joy and an abundant life? Or have you struggled with abortion? Please share so we can help others.