The Sacredness of Life – Womb to Womb

Let’s not forget who God is.

God created the heavens and the earth and all living creatures including man and woman. He existed before time began and He is not bound by time. And yet when we consider the value God places on life, we easily forget this. We ponder questions like: when does life begin? is this life viable? Is this even quality of life? Should we end this life? 

“Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.” Psalm 90:2

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.” John 1:1-2

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” Revelation 1:8 

When does life begin?

This was not even an issue until we faced unplanned pregnancies, birth control and abortion. 

In the 20th century, obstetrics developed chiefly in the areas of fertility control and the promotion of healthy births. The prenatal care and instruction of pregnant mothers to reduce birth defects and problem deliveries was introduced about 1900 and thereafter rapidly adopted throughout the world.

From its earliest education, science has said life begins at conception. 

Scripture says God knew us before we were born, and our creation was no surprise to him even if it was a surprise to us:

For you created my inmost being, you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful; I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. Psalm 139:13-16

God is a part of every creation. He has a plan and a purpose for everyone. We have the obligation of honoring, protecting, and supporting all life, womb to tomb.  

Why I see LIFE so fully 

I had nearly a dozen surgeries that put me in the hospital from the age of 2 until 24. As a result, I dug in early in what God had to say about my life while facing what doctors had to say about my life. Then, when I was 25, my sister had a child with spina bifida. Doctors encouraged her to terminate the pregnancy because of the perceived lack of quality of life. She chose life and we were introduced to a world that included people of all disabilities. We were reminded disabilities did not change our value. 

Being recent immigrant Southern Italians, we faced other challenges growing up. We were a blue-collar family, we were called ‘wops’ or ‘dagos’ (not a compliment) and qualified for food stamps. Our allies were other immigrants, including our black and brown friends. I worked since I was 12 and if it weren’t for scholarships, I would have not been able to go to college. But I was learned being poor or being ‘outcasted’ did not change my value. 

Abortion Numbers and the Law Today

In 2020, there were 930,160 abortions in the United States (most recent data from Gutmacher Institute), If you divide that by 365 days (since you can now get abortion pills over the internet) that is 2,548 EVERY SINGLE DAY. 90% are in the first trimester-(2,294), 9% in the 2nd trimester (229) and 1% in 3rd trimester (26). Gutmacher sites that over 70% of women choose abortion because of lack of resources and financial means. 

With the landmark decision of the Supreme Court overturning of Roe v. Wade June 24, 2022, abortion laws are now back in the hands of each individual state. Abortion has not been unilaterally made illegal in this country. To see the current standing in your state the most up to date data is here. 

Tragic cases being reported all over the news (rape, incest, life of mother or child, miscarriages that require a DC, etc); reported also by Gutmacher Institute, make up less than 2% of all abortions. Do not let these rare issues skew your view on the issue of abortion. The truth is abortion has largely become 1) an expensive form of birth control 2) a billion-dollar industry profiting some at the expense of women. Typically, underserved women and disproportionately women of color.

What can we do?

“Do the very best you can and when you know better, do better.” Maya Angalou.

It is not even an issue of what we can do. It is actually: what MUST we do? We must act individually, as a family and as a church community. We must BE the Gospel. 

Helping those in unplanned pregnancies:

• Families need to get more engaged with their young children, teenagers, and young adults when it comes to educating and modeling healthy relationships, and the risks of sexual activity outside of a marriage. They need to pay attention to what their children is being taught in school, by their peers and on the internet and speak into that messaging. 
• We need to volunteer our time to mentor young men and women who are do not have a family unit to get the same education. 
• We need to donate our time, talents and treasures to our local pregnancy centers, foster care programs, medical clinics, and national programs supporting women in unplanned pregnancies and single parenting programs that assist mothers until their child is 18. 
• We need to be educated about our local laws that hinder support for adoption, foster care, and single parenting. We need to vote on the side of supporting legislation that makes these options more viable and affordable. 

Assisting those with disabilities or facing other socioeconomic hardships and roadblocks:

• We can support with our time, talents, and treasures to local agencies that provide resources and opportunities to help those who need extra assistance.
• We need to be educated about where we are adding to prejudice and judgement and hindering someone reaching their potential.
  • Did you know the ADA (American Disability Act) did not become law until July 26, 1990? And yet today there is lack of compliance all around from both the business owners to the general population. What can you do? Call it out if you see it. 
  • Be on the lookout and know what to do if you witness child abuse, domestic violence, or potential trafficking; a rising problem in our country at an alarming rate. 

Where can I get more information?
Through a new nonprofit: Life, Love and Other Things (LLOT), I am helping launch resources by state and a national website (late summer 2022). Tennessee is our first state and can be previewed here. The LLOT site address is: www.lifeloveandotherthings.com.  Bookmark this page to have as a resource in the coming months. 

The focus of LLOT is three-fold. 1) It is a place where women, men, parents, youth leaders, teachers, coaches, and other nonprofit agencies will be able to access accurate up to date information on this topic along with bylines, blogs, and videos covering topics young women (and men) need to make healthier relationship choices. 2) provide a directory of resources around the country including pregnancy centers, counseling centers, medical clinics, and education sources; critical for those who choose to parent in an unplanned pregnancy; 3) provide scholarships to young women and men who are successfully advancing themselves out of a crisis.  

Therefore, I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:1-2