EN(dur)ANCE by Robin Gudal

 

Jan. 22nd was my birthday! I love birthdays a lot. I prefer birthday month vs. a single day. Through the years I have celebrated my day in different ways.

A handful of years ago, my son’s job had a day off policy for your birthday. Though I didn’t work for his company, I decided I liked that idea; so, I implemented it! Regardless of how I celebrate, my birthday is a symbolic day; Sanctity of Life day.

Psalm 139:13 New Living Translation: “You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb.”

I grew up in a home where this was taught. I know it can be a controversial topic — mostly because of how it has been communicated. Sometimes our tongue becomes a weapon rather than a tool of education and love. If you have been hurt in this manner, I am sorry. I do not condone those who choose hatred or violence to communicate, ever!

1 Corinthians 13;13, NIV confirms, “And now these three remain; faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

I have friends and relatives who have chosen to end the life of their baby in their womb and I have watched them; it is not an easy road. Nearly two-thirds of woman who have abortions identify themselves as Christian, according to the book “UnPlanned.” They deserve our love, compassion and the road map of forgiveness.

“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” John 15:12, NIV

Two books that I have read tell the story of this day in our history much better than I can: “Won by Love” by Norma McCorvey — she is the Jane Doe of Roe v. Wade — and “UnPlanned” by Abby Johnson.

On the back cover of Norma’s book, it reads: “In Roe v. Wade, perhaps the most controversial United States Supreme Court decision, Norma fought for and won the right to secure an abortion. Though she never had an abortion, under the pseudonym Jane Doe, Norma reluctantly became the poster child for the pro-choice movement. Over the next two decades, Norma experienced the grief and despair millions of women who make this choice do. Finally, she began to break. She found out that the real choices she had been burdened with was not about abortion but about eternal life. It was a choice that would shock the world and change her life forever.”

In her book on pages 236 and 237 she shares, “In this place of healing, The National Memorial for the Unborn, we stand (she and Sandra Cano or Mary Doe) together to honor the worth of every unborn child as created in the image of God. We are forgiven and redeemed, new creatures in Christ and children of God.”

Luke 7:48 NKJV says it best: “Then He said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’”

Though I haven’t walked this path, this promise is so assuring, as I am a sinner.

On Jan. 22, may we honor life within the womb.

Robin (Beckman) Gudal, intentional in life, is a wife, momma, nana, friend, and a flawed and imperfect follower of Jesus.