What About Mary?

Children are a miracle of God bestowed on undeserving parents who ask in hope and faith. At least, that's what the stories in the Bible tell me. Then, 1973 happened and America started telling a new story on what the value of a helpless child means. We have arrived on the murder scene to find millions of innocent babies sent to the slaughter and the blood on our hands should have us on our knees pleading for forgiveness. But a certain modern-day group doesn't plead. It applauds and even smiles. They laugh. They praise. Because the mother who ended the beautiful life of her unborn baby decided she didn't want her child. She had a choice, so they tell me. Because it's her body and her own life matters more. It wasn't the right time. She made a mistake. The child had Down syndrome. It wasn't a girl. It wasn't a boy. It wasn't convenient. She made a mistake. It wasn't planned. I'm not ready to have a child. It's my body, my choice. We've heard them all. And it's deafening the sounds of the bloodshed of the innocent.

It is time for the unborn to speak for themselves. What would they say if they could speak? What would they ask? What if the slain babies of yesterday had been given the privilege of life and walked among us? Who would they be? Who would they become? What jobs would they have tomorrow? Would they be a teacher or an engineer? An attorney or a nurse? Maybe they would set foot on the moon or run for President. They might have been tomorrow's doctors or our future leaders. Children have a remarkable ability of making a difference on this earth and leaving an impression on the impressionable minds of parents. They could have been there when the parent needed assisted living or during their dying last breath. But sadly, these children were not given these opportunities. These opportunities were taken away before they even had their first breath. All I can say in response is "God is sovereign and heaven is fuller." In the silencing of a child's voice, it is very difficult to find God in all of it. But He still bends low to hear our cries for injustice in this weary world and reaches down to save these innocent, helpless little ones.

It is troubling and heartbreaking to see and know what is being done to the innocent in this nation and across the globe. And I have a question to ask, "What about Mary?" What if the decision had been placed in her hands? What if she thought it too great a burden to bear? A circumstance too inconvenient? A situation out of her control? But Mary humbled herself and carried the little Son of God inside her like the greatest treasure she had ever known. It was definitely a great burden to bear, a circumstance that looked wrong to the world, and a situation out of her control. But despite her current surroundings and her situation, she trusted God and believed that it would be the greatest gift the world would ever behold. What if she had taken matters into her own hands? What if she hadn't been faithful to God? What if she thought her own life was more important than the gift the Lord had given her? She didn't just carry a baby, she carried a life, and a very important life Who changed the world. Mary's pregnancy was unlike any other in history; she was given the job of carrying the Christ Child without her asking or making a mistake and she carried out this motherly deed in faith.

If little Baby God grew up to become the Redeemer of the world, imagine what great things the babies abiding in the wombs of their mothers could do tomorrow. Imagine all the people who have made a difference in this world? What if they had not been given the chance for life? Would our world look the same? God has created each one of us in His image and intricately weaves each with His threads of love, grace, beauty, and purpose. We are molded by the Potter to be vessels of Him and give Him glory. Each one of us has a divine purpose on this earth and not one of us was a mistake. He doesn't trash any of His masterpieces or change His mind. No life is a waste or mistake in His eyes. He makes all things for a beautiful purpose and sees all lives as priceless and holding value beyond our imagination. When someone takes the life of another, whether born or unborn, they are attacking the very image of God. We are His creations with the imprints of His hands. All lives count and matter to God. May our world see the value of a life and understand that the seed abiding within them holds more value than their finite minds can comprehend. When a life begins in a mother's womb, the child is woven and spun by the great Maker of the universe. God, forgive us.

I wear a simple gold necklace with the reference "Psalm 139" stamped on the pendant. This passage spoke to me in depth last summer and left such an impression on me that I wanted to be reminded of it daily. This passage represents so much--I am fully known by the Lord and Creator who wove me intricately in secret to be a unique person with divine purpose. What a profound truth to behold--to know that God knows me better than my small mind will ever understand. He goes before and beside me to guide me in His truth and wisdom with His grace, mercy, and love. I know not all the ways the Lord will use me on this side of heaven or how He is going to work in all my anxieties and questions.

Before I was born, the doctors told my mother that there was a high percentage that I could be hydrocephalic; they didn't tell her to consider abortion, but they certainly insinuated the thought to her. As it turned out, I wasn't and I have thought of this often. What if my mom had aborted me because she believed that I might have a physical disability? Even if I had, aborting was never an option for her. She would have loved me still the same. I have thought about the fact that I was born without a disability and went on to graduate from college.

We never know what one life can accomplish, regardless of their physical condition. We cannot pick and choose what lives we will accept in this world. They are all important. Let's give the unborn a chance for life and see what they will do in this world. They will be tomorrow's children, students, parents, leaders, military, teachers, writers, business owners, artists, doctors, attorneys, engineers, scientists, bankers, astronauts, architects, entrepreneurs, and so much more. Just imagine what one small life can become. Look beyond the small hands and tiny toes and behold the greatness there.

In the words of Fred Rogers, "You are special."