Today is the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, and what pro-lifers call "March for Life," because of the 100k strong protesters at the capital. I've been to March for Life before, and it was hard, cold, and sad. It is not a rally, nor a party. It is a mourning of generation after generation of those who are nameless and faceless; silenced.
We talk openly with adults when the kids are around about politics, theology, and our beliefs. They don't catch most of what we're saying, so even though we openly talk about abortion and other controversial topics, when I asked Luke today if he knew what abortion was, he couldn't tell me. We pray for the unborn and for an end to abortion daily, and yet, his vocabulary doesn't yet comprehend violence against the unborn.
And today at lunch time, explaining to Luke all the people I knew at March for Life and our fight for the unborn, he became quickly confused about what we were fighting against. "Why," "Why," "Why," he had so many questions,"But why," why would babies need someone to fight for them? Aren't they safe?
No, dear child, not in this country.
I have discussed abortion with people many times. Those for and against. I've argued and fought over it; become impassioned with rage over it, but have also been compassionate and understanding. I hadn't, until today, explained it to a child.
I answered his questions modestly but truthfully--appropriate, I believe, for his level of understanding. And every word, even watered down and simplified, brought tears. Before I knew it, I was crying at the kitchen table over cheesy bread and tomato soup.
It's a sad thing to rub off some of the innocence that children are born with. After all, our children are surrounded by friends and family who adore babies and see each one as a blessing.
And I realized that talking about abortion is much different than actually explaining what it is. How painful it is to say out loud. There is a lot I want to write but can't. Instead, we pray for the unborn, we pray for an end to abortion, even though the children can't fathom a world of unloved babies.
While I can't be there today, I am raising the next generation in hopes that a March for Life for them will someday be unnecessary.
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1 comment:
Oh Mal, I know exactly what you are talking about.
I've noticed over the years that my heart ACHES, literally hurts when I hear of babies being killed in the womb. I can't even pretend to hold back my tears. I've always been an openly pro-life advocate but something changed after actually carrying a baby in my womb. Something REAL and tangible happened in my conviction that only gets stronger as years pass and more babies are born into our family. I can't even imagine a world without them. It's hard to remember our world before them. And I weep just thinking about all those babes ripped from the safety of the womb.
Thank you for this post. I wanted to post something yesterday but couldn't find the words.
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