Love and choice
Years ago, when I was a
teenager, I watched a movie called If
These Walls Could Talk. It recounted three different women in three
different generations making decisions about pregnancy and abortion. I can’t
remember much about the movie but I do remember the scenes about old-school
illegal abortions. It was awful.
I don’t doubt that
those procedures were much worse than those that occur today, but nevertheless,
even with her forewarning, I still found chapter 5 of Best’s book quite
shocking. In this chapter, she outlines the different methods of abortion that
are available. It is not dramatised. Her style is medical and straightforward.
Her discussion of the possible physical and mental consequences of abortion
made me want to read Melinda Tankard-Reist’s book Giving Sorrow Words,
although at the same time the sheer weight and grief of the topic makes me
hesitant. I wonder if its one of those things that for the sake of love, we
just need to keep thinking and reading about this topic.
Best goes on to discuss
why women consider aborting. She explains how even those women who think
abortion is wrong, even women who are evangelical Christians, have abortions
because they feel they have no other choice. This means it is so crucial for
friends and churches to provide support, so that the choices can reappear in
view.
There are many helpful things in the rest of
the book. These include Best’s advice to pregnant women on working out whether
to get married, and her discussion on what’s involved in adoption. Overall, I
was struck again and again by the need to be ready to help and support when
needed.
To finish up, a word for anyone out there
facing these very difficult decisions for themselves... I can’t imagine how
hard it must be or how trapped and scared you may feel. But here are some words
from a woman I know who found herself in a similar situation, I hope in some
small way they help:
My advice and
encouragement to other ladies who might be facing the challenge of unexpected
pregnancy is that every child is a gift from God. Our little boy is nearly 5
now, and he is a gorgeous angel with a gentle and loving personality. We are
witnessing the way his faith is growing and the desire he has to follow Jesus.
I strongly believe that God can turn something which we often see as a
challenge or a failure into blessings for us and others, as we keep on focus on
Him and seek His will and guidance as we deal with the challenge and face the
consequences.
Amen & Amen.