The Loss is Palpable - But So is the Love

Many people lost their lives these last two weeks.  In Boston and in West, people died under tragic circumstances.

Recently, my friends suffered loss as well.  I won't go into detail with their names, where they live, or what the precise details are.  Those things don't belong in my blog.  But there are some things that I feel need to be said.

This family was shocked and overjoyed when they found that they were going to have another child.  But that joy turned to dismay when the doctor informed them of the result of numerous tests.  Their child had a severe genetic defect that gave it virtually no chance of survival outside of the womb.  The doctors wanted to abort, but my friends are firm believers that since this child was alive, they did not have the right to take the gift of life bestowed on it by God himself.  They determined that the mother would carry their child as long as it, she, lived.  It was a difficult time, as the mother suffered health issues, the father had a serious health crisis, and at the same time they had to prepare for the death of their baby.  Arrangements had to be made.

When the little girl was born, the doctors were amazed that she was alive.  In fact, the little girl lived several hours, allowing time for the mother and father to hold her, for her sister to give her kisses, and for just a little while to be a family of four.  The defects were far too severe, however, and before the day was over, their little girl was gone.

Still, while she was alive, this little girl knew love.  She felt the touch of her family.  She was kept warm and as comfortable as possible.  She passed away and would be sorely missed by those who got to see her and know that she was their little girl.

People who are pro-abortion would say that this woman should have terminated this pregnancy early on; that it was cruel to carry this child to term.  They are wrong.  This family felt the child moving in the womb; felt it alive; saw her in the ultrasound.  She was a baby.  She was alive.  The family felt that they had no right or cause to end their daughter's life in that way.  By waiting, they honored their Bible-based beliefs by showing respect for life, and they got to have those few short hours with their daughter.  I praise them, not for their sacrifice, but for their love - because it was love for God and love for their daughter that moved them to continue the pregnancy.

I am not pro-abortion.  But I would like to say something to those people who stand in front of schools with "shock value" posters and handouts trying to horrify people into standing against abortion.  These are the same people who think that taking the life of an abortion clinic worker is an acceptable trade-off, which smacks of hypocrisy.  Do you really want to make your feelings known?  Then do it with kindness.  Do it with patience.  Do it with love.  The strongest argument against abortion was made by this family of four, who got to know their little girl.  Yes ... their little girl.  Not a shock-value fetus or a non-viable biological entity.  This was their daughter.

I weep for this family's loss.  I hurt for them, and, having seen the pictures of them holding their daughter, weep for a little girl who never got the chance to grow up.  But yet, I have seen one of the strongest expressions of love that anyone can imagine.  And, whenever God brings this system of things to a finish, I hope to see that expression of love multiplied dramatically, as this family welcomes back their daughter in perfect health in a paradise earth.  Until then, I am sure that all of us who got to see their little girl, will never be the same, as we have truly seen the selfless love of a family for their children.