God’s will be done.

A few years ago, I read a shocking statement written by a father about his son. 

"In the top drawer of my desk, I keep [a picture of my son]. This picture was taken on September 7, 1993, 24 weeks before he was born. The sonogram image is murky, but it reveals clear enough a small head tilted back slightly, and an arm raised up and bent, with the hand pointing back toward the face and the thumb extended out toward the mouth. There is no doubt in my mind that this picture, too, shows [my son] at a very early stage in his physical development. And there is no question that the position I defend in this book entails that it would have been morally permissible to end his life at this point."

-David Boonin in his book, A Defense of Abortion.

Boonin's statement is a shocking defiance of the true meaning of love and parenthood. Love is, as Aquinas defines so eloquently, willing the good of the other. We are called to desire the very best for another, especially our children, in all circumstances, regardless of our emotions, feelings, convenience, or comfort.

The truth that human life is sacred and worthy of unconditional, sacrificial love is absolute, objective, and unwavering. But in defiance of love, evil tempts Boonin to question the value and dignity of human life and the sacred role of parenthood…  Boonin and so many others.

At this point, I would like to pause and share with you a very powerful story about a woman I encountered while working at a pregnancy center in Georgia.

Evelyn.

After parking, Evelyn made her way across the front of our building to the abortion clinic next door. As she passed, our sidewalk advocates asked her if there was anything they could do for her. Evelyn requested prayers with the caveat that they did not pray she chose life. “I have to do this”, she said. “Don't pray that I don't go through with it. “

To serve this woman in the way she asked, the sidewalk advocates joined hands with her and prayed simply for God's will to be done. After praying, Evelyn was in tears. She shared she had many children at home, and her husband was abusive. Among other abuses, he would force himself on her, making sure she remained pregnant. He would tell her, "No one wants a fat pregnant woman with all those kids. No one would ever want you."

A year and a half earlier, she had started saving money to escape her abusive husband. She took a small amount from each paycheck and gave the money to her 11-year-old daughter, who hid it in her school backpack. She told us that in the previous few days, he had started hitting her children. She knew it was time to escape. "That's why I am here; I am pregnant again." Through sobs, she shared that she could not escape, support her other children, and rebuild her life while pregnant. "It is just too much."

Our advocates offered help with logistics, supplies, and anything else they could possibly think of. After a regretful decline of their support, Evelyn entered the abortion facility. 

God's will be done. 

The following morning, I received a frantic phone call. “You said you could help me. Can you still help me?” It was Evelyn. She explained that, after hours of sitting in the abortion clinic, she walked out without going through with the abortion. I just couldn't do it. In a panic, she explained that the moving truck was on its way to her home. She had one hour to load her belongings because if her husband were alerted by a neighbor, it would take him no less than an hour to get home to stop her. She asked if she could stop by our center on her way out of town to pick up baby clothes and diapers for her smallest. 

A little over an hour later, a small moving truck pulled into our parking lot, and Evelyn stepped out, shaking. Our team was able to put together money, baby clothes, diapers, and food for their escape.

Knowing she needed to get on the road quickly, we locked hands and prayed with her again; her little ones stood within the circle we formed around them. After we prayed, she shared this:

"When I came here yesterday, this baby was the one thing getting in my way of saving my other children. I didn't want an abortion, but everything I had to do seemed impossible if I stayed pregnant. But this little one is the reason I met all of you. This little one, who doesn't have a name yet, showed me that God has not forgotten about me. That in my lowest moments of despair, He will always place a path before me as long as I trust in Him. This little one has given great hope to his brothers, his sisters, and his mama. I love him so much."

God's will be done. 

Evelyn's story is hard to hear. Those like Mr. Boonin would point to her story as the ideal scenario to "prove" abortion is necessary. Many, especially within a culture where the human person's value and dignity are contingent on so many variables, are conditioned to agree that Evelyn's story is, indeed, the ideal "what if" scenario. But Evelyn destroys that theory.

The truth is willing the good of another never takes casualties. If we live what our Christian faith teaches, then an option that did not authentically love Evelyn and each of her children, including her pre-born child, would not be a viable solution but rather a distortion of love. No doubt, introducing another child into Evelyn's situation would be difficult, but that did not make his life expendable. 

Today, we invite you and your family to Spiritually Adopt an unborn child. Venerable Fulton Sheen shared this prayer and practice years ago and we have provided a guide for you below. Spiritual adoption is a way to intercede for mothers like Evelyn and her unborn child. This prayer will plant the seeds of truth within your little one's hearts that life is sacred and that prayer changes everything.

Also! I invite each of you to encounter our beautiful October, Respect Life Month calendar called The Little Way, with a heart towards teaching your children, your students, or your parish about the dignity of the human person and the sanctity of human life— if you don’t do it, who will?

For more information about joyfully reawakening a culture of life within your domestic church, visit www.pelicanprojectministry.org.