Life

On Friday, I walked with hundreds of thousands of men and women, boys and girls from across the United States for the defense of life.  The number of young people carrying placards saying. “We are the Pro-Life generation” was impressive.  I had many friends who participated in the March for Life, including my son, but chose to walk alone so that I could observe it without distraction.  It also allowed me to pray as I walked.

I stood at the corner of 7^th Street and Constitution to observe the beginning of the march. Behind the Knights of Columbus, who carried flags, were dozens of women carrying signs that proclaimed, “I Regret My Abortion”.  I admire them for their honesty and willingness to speak about an event that most likely happened when they were young. At middle age, they are trying to make a difference in a culture that wants to claim that their message is a “War on Women”.  But they know a sadness and guilt that has accompanied them and hope that other women will not have to experience it.

I watched as hundreds and thousands of individuals, young and old marched.  After forty minutes or so, I joined the masses and began my trek. As I walked, I thought about the heroes in my life who have made the choice for life in difficult or inconvenient situations.  

          My former boss’s daughter found herself pregnant and unmarried at 19.  She has taken to motherhood while working and finishing college.  Not an easy life, but her daughter is the delight of her life.

          My niece chose life when she discovered she was pregnant at 17 years old.  She had her son, who is now 12, married the father a few months later, had another child and finished her college degree.  She works as an auditor and is an outstanding wife and mother.

          My brother and his wife were counseled to not have their child when the test came back that he might have Down syndrome.  Their son was born and will be 12 in March.  Our family life would be greatly impoverished without Jon’s lively sense of humor and fearless honesty. 

And there are many more.  I learned this year that Justin Bieber’s mom had considered abortion but was counseled at a Crisis Pregnancy Center and choose life – to the delight of teenage girls around the world!

Abortion became legal when I was 15.  The women of my generation were the first to be allowed this “freedom” of eliminating pregnancy.  I do not judge women who chose abortion; in fact I have a deep empathy for them.  I doubt that many women make this decision easily, thinking that it is their only option.

I do believe, in the core of my soul, that abortion is violence against women.  While I have not had an abortion, I lost a baby in the 16^th week of pregnancy. It took many years for me to be able to think about the loss of without tears.  It is my great hope that the young people who are the pro-life generation are able to influence our law makers and help us to become, once again, a country that protects all life.