Possibilities of Life [Elizabeth]

I pen this blog on the heels of a relaxing day spent in the mountains of north Georgia with my friend, Amy. Sunday turned out to be an uncharacteristically cool day. We enjoyed fellowship in a setting filled with evidence of God’s majesty.

The serene landscape was ironic when juxtaposed with my chaotic and emotional week. In my job as a crime reporter, I had to cover the sentencing of an 18-year-old who accidentally shot and killed his best friend on New Year’s Eve. The heartbreak in that courtroom was palpable. One family grieved the tragic loss of their only son, while another family rallied around a man who must come to grips with what he did and learn to live again.

Last week I also followed the story of a man who was physically abusing his 3-month-old son. That child is now in intensive care at an Atlanta hospital fighting for his life. The infant's father laughed about the situation in an interview with investigators.

One need not look far to see pain and suffering and tragedy. If we allowed ourselves to cry for all the pain in this world, we might never stop.

Despite this, the world is still a beautiful place with moments of grace, mercy, faith, hope and love.

I am grateful to be alive — grateful my parents allowed me to be born and that my Heavenly Father allowed me to be born again of water and the Spirit.

That said, I was angered this week by a Planned Parenthood podcast aimed at convincing women that abortion is “a very uncomplicated procedure” sought by women “wanting to be the best parent you can be and not feeling ready to do it.”

Is killing your unborn child so you don’t potentially mess them up later in life good parenting?

Last week in the world of pop culture, news exploded about reality star Kourtney Kardashian choosing life over abortion for her unborn child.

Kardashian gave an interview with People Magazine, and in it she spoke candidly about how she agonized over the decision about whether to keep her baby.

“For me, all the reasons why I wouldn't keep the baby were so selfish: It wasn't like I was raped, it's not like I'm 16. I'm 30 years old, I make my own money, I support myself, I can afford to have a baby. And I am with someone who I love, and have been with for a long time.”

I hope her testimony encourages people who might otherwise choose abortion to give life a second glance. But, I’m still disheartened by the image of immorality she endorses in her lifestyle — encouraging women to take the same path of promiscuity that leads to these difficult decisions.

Even the pro-life niece of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. — Dr. Alveda King — weighed in on Kardashian’s news.

“The courage of Kourtney Kardashian and the hundreds of young women who are coming to similar conclusions regarding unplanned pregnancies is proof that abortion is not the answer for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for women,” said King.

It is indeed not the answer. Your pregnancy may be unplanned. Maybe you don’t have all your ducks in a row, and the thought of a baby is overwhelming.

At least consider your options.

If you do decide to keep your child and love him in the midst of an imperfect world, it will most assuredly change your life forever. He will get hurt. He will cause you heartache. He will struggle in a world longing for the salvation of Christ.

But that’s life. Give him the chance to live it.