I would like to start this pastor's column with two scripture passages that are certainly worthy of reflection. The first is Psalm 139:13-14 which says "For you created my inmost being: you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." My sister, Judy has recently become a grandmother for the third time and is now in
Texarkana helping her son and daughter-in-law with ittle Evelyn (who they named after my mother). This morning she wrote "I love these little newborns; it reminds you what a miracle birth is." The author who wrote Psalm 139 and my sister would both agree with the statement that a child is a remarkable and wonderful gift from God! The second scripture passage is from the Gospel of Luke when the child, John the Baptist leaped in his mother's womb as Mary, who was pregnant with Jesus, "entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth" (Luke 1:40). Elizabeth, filled and inspired by the Holy Spirit, spoke of the child in Mary as the "fruit" of your womb (Lk 1:42), referred to Mary as the "mother of my Lord" (Lk 1:43), and believed that the child in her womb was "leaping for joy". (Lk 1:44). It is sad indeed that so many mothers-to-be throughout history have not felt as the Psalmist, Elizabeth, Mary and Rebecca (Becca) the mother of newborn Evelyn did about the child in their womb and/or the child in other women's wombs. If they all did, aborting (ending the life of the child in their womb) would not be
contemplated, much less be done. It is the call of every generation to impress upon its young people just how precious a child is inside and outside of a mother's womb and do all that it can to support a mother-to-be after she finds out she is pregnant. How far we are from such a society when the concept of abortion is "out there" so much and the right to life of all babies in their mother's womb is ignored and really trampled on when abortion is presented as an option and a "right" for these mothers-to-be to exercise if they wish to do so. How sad it is that in the society we live in whose technology is more and more advanced to the point where we can see and support the child in the mother's womb, that instead of puttng more dollars into prenatal screening and support, some are suggesting that more money (including tax money) should be going to support the killing of the child while in its mother's womb and promoting no limits on when she can do this at any time during her pregnancy. If, outside of the context of this pastor's column I or you or anyone posed or were asked to answer this question: "of the three unalienable rights that all humans are given by their creator" according to the Declaration of Independence, life liberty and the pursuit of happiness, which of these MUST come first and of most importance, you would hear or I hope, say life, because without the right to life, these other two could not happen.
Texarkana helping her son and daughter-in-law with ittle Evelyn (who they named after my mother). This morning she wrote "I love these little newborns; it reminds you what a miracle birth is." The author who wrote Psalm 139 and my sister would both agree with the statement that a child is a remarkable and wonderful gift from God! The second scripture passage is from the Gospel of Luke when the child, John the Baptist leaped in his mother's womb as Mary, who was pregnant with Jesus, "entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth" (Luke 1:40). Elizabeth, filled and inspired by the Holy Spirit, spoke of the child in Mary as the "fruit" of your womb (Lk 1:42), referred to Mary as the "mother of my Lord" (Lk 1:43), and believed that the child in her womb was "leaping for joy". (Lk 1:44). It is sad indeed that so many mothers-to-be throughout history have not felt as the Psalmist, Elizabeth, Mary and Rebecca (Becca) the mother of newborn Evelyn did about the child in their womb and/or the child in other women's wombs. If they all did, aborting (ending the life of the child in their womb) would not be
contemplated, much less be done. It is the call of every generation to impress upon its young people just how precious a child is inside and outside of a mother's womb and do all that it can to support a mother-to-be after she finds out she is pregnant. How far we are from such a society when the concept of abortion is "out there" so much and the right to life of all babies in their mother's womb is ignored and really trampled on when abortion is presented as an option and a "right" for these mothers-to-be to exercise if they wish to do so. How sad it is that in the society we live in whose technology is more and more advanced to the point where we can see and support the child in the mother's womb, that instead of puttng more dollars into prenatal screening and support, some are suggesting that more money (including tax money) should be going to support the killing of the child while in its mother's womb and promoting no limits on when she can do this at any time during her pregnancy. If, outside of the context of this pastor's column I or you or anyone posed or were asked to answer this question: "of the three unalienable rights that all humans are given by their creator" according to the Declaration of Independence, life liberty and the pursuit of happiness, which of these MUST come first and of most importance, you would hear or I hope, say life, because without the right to life, these other two could not happen.