Guest contributor: Abby Klose, college sophomore
Since most media sources won’t report on the March for Life that took place on Friday and they consistently fail to portray the ideology of an average pro-lifer, I’ve decided to share my views as someone who is pro-life. My goal is not to change anyone’s opinion, but to give a glimpse into the heart behind the pro-life movement for those who have yet to experience it.
Today my heart grieves a little extra for the lives lost to abortion because of the circumstances of their birth or the makeup of their DNA. It pains me to know that someone won’t be born today because somebody else failed to see their value. The idea that the circumstances of my own birth afforded me life, while someone else’s circumstances brought them a death sentence places a burden on my heart to advocate for those who were less fortunate.
How can we expect to eliminate discrimination when it is encouraged while we are still in the womb?
How can we expect those who are born into unfortunate circumstances to understand their worth when we constantly tell pregnant women that their babies are better off dead?
I long for the day when we treat every human being with the dignity that they deserve BOTH inside AND outside of the womb.
I long for the day when we refuse to cite moments when dignity was robbed from humans outside of the womb as a reason to rob dignity from mothers and their children within the womb. I say mothers too, because abortion hurts them just as much.
I long for the day when every person who calls themselves pro-life actually treats those outside the womb with the respect and the dignity they deserve. That includes post-abortive mothers. Those who call themselves pro-life but mistreat humans outside of the womb are NOT pro-life.
I long for the day when our first response to an unplanned pregnancy is to rally the troops and consider how we can best support women. On that day, abortion will truly be unthinkable.
I pray for a day when the church as a whole awakens and recognizes their sin of apathy on an issue that matters to God. I pray that their eyes will be opened and their hearts burdened.
All this being said, I don’t live with a misty-eyed view of life. We live in a world with pain and suffering, and that’s not going to change. But I also believe there is a light far greater than the darkness in this world. His name is Jesus Christ, and it is the power of Christ that can redeem any situation. He takes our brokenness and turns it into a testimony. He brings light to dark situations. Some people may be born with an extra chromosome. Some may be born into an abusive home. Some were a product of violence. Even still, I believe there is value in their life. This is why I am unashamedly pro-life.