Twenty years ago this month, the Lord spoke loud and clear to my heart. And I would never be the same.
The message was VERY powerful..”it’s time for you, my child, to put some action behind those sometimes empty pro-life words.’ At that moment in time, I had no idea what that meant.
But all these years later, those words resonate in my ears and in my heart every day. Years of experience; of joy, of heartbreak, of God’s incredible vision and provision have brought me to a new understanding of exactly what He was and is trying to say. Being Pro-Life is just not enough. Christians boldly took a stand long before Roe vs. Wade and granted it’s a stand we need to continue to take. But we have got to expand our definition of what pro-life means, both to us as a body and to each one of us personally.
My heart has been broken by children in foster care who the world and even the church regard as disposable. Children who may have been saved from the abortionist’s hand, but who went on to enter the system because though their mothers’ chose ‘life’ at birth, no guidance may have been given as to how to care for and nurture that life once it was breathing. These children need us desperately. They need us to be pro-life after birth; to open up our hearts and our homes to a real solution for them. They need to see in our eyes unconditional love and hope, not just a judgmental epitaph on God’s condemnation. Praise the Lord some of these children may have been born as a result of our picketing and marching, but their lives will only be all that God created and purposed them to be if we take off our marching shoes, put down our signs and embrace them with the hands of a loving heavenly Father. Marching and picketing have their places but its when we open ourselves up to the rest of the story that God moves in and makes a difference in the lives of these precious ones.
So, on this Right to Life Sunday, may we examine our hearts and our ‘stand’ in a way that moves us to action, drives us to change and brings help, hope, healing and a home to vulnerable children in foster care.
Christie, I didn’t realize our calling was so similar. Twenty years ago this June I was talking to a girl I didn’t know who changed my life forever. She said, “I know that abortion is murder, but wouldn’t it be better for some children to die then to grow up in a world without love.” God spoke as clearly in that moment as I’ve ever heard him. He said that it would never be enough for me to just carry a sign. I was called to adopt a child who would not be otherwise. A child that the world would otherwise discard. He planted a seed in my heart that has grown and taken root of my whole being. It has led me down the beautiful road of foster care, and I am so excited to see it’s fulfillment in the days ahead.
Wow…..so true! I had never thought about it from that perspective. Thank you so much for sharing.
Thanks so much Tenille!
Reblogged this on tenillerauls's Blog and commented:
So true.
Oh friend, you said exactly what my heart feels! This is so, so good!
Thank you sweet friend! Just so important!!
[...] “Right to Life” and Then What? – This blogger tackles the touchy subject of those who stand waiving pro-life signs but then are not there to support women after choosing to parent or to adopt the children who need a family. [...]