”This ancient offering is the purpose of her journey – of her whole life. She is a mother. She has triumphed. She will not be the one to break this ancient chain of life!”
These touching words, accompanied by grand film footage and an uplifting musical score are quite inspirational. Let these words sink in and then prepare yourself…
– the narrator was talking about…
wait for it…
wait for it…
the loggerhead turtle!
Now much can (and should) be said about the magnificence of God’s vast creation.
Thou thyself, O Lord alone, thou hast made heaven, and the heaven of heavens, and all the host thereof: the earth and all things that are in it: the seas and all that are therein: and thou givest life to all these things, and the host of heaven adoreth thee.. Nehemiah 9:6
That we are called to be good Stewards of the earth and of all living creatures is very much a part of our Catholic faith.
And God created man to his own image: to the image of God he created him: male and female he created them.
And God blessed them, saying: Increase and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it, and rule over the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the air, and all living creatures that move upon the earth. Genesis 1:27-28
But what does it say of our society when this stewardship does not extend to those who were created in the ‘likeness and image of God’?
355 “God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him, male and female he created them.”218 Man occupies a unique place in creation: (I) he is “in the image of God”; (II) in his own nature he unites the spiritual and material worlds; (III) he is created “male and female”; (IV) God established him in his friendship. Catechism of the Catholic Church
If God is our creator – the creator of all of the earth’s goodness – then why would we dispute the significance, and superiority, of man’s creation as a soul with free will who is destined for heaven? Yet if the environmentalists can see value in the life of a turtle – one of His creatures – why can’t they make the leap to the importance of human motherhood and its beauty?
Television commercials – cue the sappy music (is that a hymn I’m hearing?) – and look into the soulful eyes of puppies and kittens who have been abandoned. These ads play often and warrant the customary sighs and sadness that mistreatment of any living thing warrants. But where are the commercials – and the outrage and sadness – for the babies who are ripped, limb from limb, and disposed of as just so much garbage. Why will the celebrity de jour rush to sponsor feline and canine but shrink away when the defense of an innocent baby is suggested? Why is the fate of Polar Bears and Baby Seals usurping the concern for our fellow human creatures?
To garner an inkling of how huge this paradox is in today’s society one must only give a casual glance at charitable organizations, celebrity supporters, and the pet industry in general. Americans now spend $41 billion a year on their pets—more than the gross domestic product of all but 64 countries in the world. Can there be any doubt that a nation who spends Billions on pet food and care should be spending a proportionate amount on the future of mankind – the human child? While my intent is not to reprimand those who have pets and/or respect animals, I am in quite the quandary when it comes to the disproportionate attention given to each. My mission, if you will, is to garner some attention for our human babies who need us to lend them our voices!
So what to do?
Educate: there are countless resources for pro-life information. From organizations such as American Life League and Priests for Life to Facebook pages and local pro-life organizations. They are as near as your keyboard, local diocese and city.
Share: make it a point to share your knowledge. It’s also amazing how many good-hearted people simply don’t know things that those of us who are active in movement take for granted. For example, the list of organizations who are not pro-life is vast – Girl Scouts, United Way, Salvation Army, Susan G Komen – the list goes on. Until we share our knowledge, many of our friends and family members will be left in the dark. Don’t let that happen! It’s for the babies!
Evangelize: let your life be a constant reminder of how you value life. Don’t just snub the March of Dimes when they ask for a donation. Explain to the person taking donations why you can’t contribute to an organization that uses abortion as one means to prevent birth defects. Someone have an unmarried pregnant teen? Praise her and them, for choosing life. Offer your help in some small way. This person may have made a mistake (or not) but they are making the right choice now!
Time and talent: I can’t think of any pro-life organization that would turn down an offer of assistance. Some need your specific talents – computer skills, artistic, organizational, communication, etc. Others simply need a warm body – housekeeping, phone answering, filing, or sorting of materials. Go to a local pro-life organization and offer to become a volunteer. Don’t have time for a steady schedule? That’s OK, offer to help with an event.
Give: you know those nickels, dimes, and quarters that rattle around in the bottom of your purse? Have you ever scraped them together to buy a soda? Well, scrape them together to create a Life Piggy Bank. Skip a latte or meal out and donate the savings. Pay your membership dues or give a donation on behalf of someone who has died. There are many ways to make a difference – a little bit at a time!
Wear your pro-life feelings on your sleeve: be a visible supporter of life. There are myriads of ways to do this. Wear the little 10 week feet pin on your collar, put a bumper sticker on your car, buy the pro-life license plate for your car (a donation goes to pregnancy care centers).
Pray: last but certainly not least is the need for prayer. This is something that anyone can contribute – no matter their circumstance in life. Pray for the babies, mothers, fathers, families, doctors, nurses, elected officials and anyone else you can think of. Let this be a constant in your prayer life. This is spiritual warfare and God is definitely on the side of life…ask Him to speak to your heart – every day.
We are fortunate to be observers of a time when the pro-life movement is gaining momentum. The pro-life cause has gained attention and even politicians have seen the light and see it’s importance when they once dodged even saying the word – abortion. We can be like St. Therese and her ‘little way’. If we all resolve to make even minor contributions toward the goal of eradicating abortion, we will make a profound difference – one act at a time!
In His Name for Life!
Birgit Jones
I want to thank Tina, from FreeProlifeImages.net, for providing the ‘save the baby humans’ clip!
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