Tuesday, November 15, 2011

The Sacredness of LIfe

Baby Beckett Thayer with Papa
     Recently, my husband and I learned that our daughter and son-in-law are expecting a baby in April.  To our delight, we also learned it will be our first granddaughter.  What a new adventure awaits as we add a cheerleader to our squad of five grandsons!  However, even better than the news itself, we had the privilege of seeing a 4-D sonogram picture of the little princess.  It was a wonder to behold!  The details of the face and the arms was amazing, and even at this early stage, we can look in awe at God's creation not yet revealed to us otherwise.  I was blessed beyond words.  No such technology existed when I carried our children.  We had sonograms but they were blurry images which needed interpretation.  Certainly, medicine has advanced tremendously over the years so we can see these pictures, but nothing compares with God's act of creating human life.
Baby Aiden Thayer 3 years ago
     As I reflected on the joy of another grandchild, I thought of Psalm 139:13-16 which reads:  "For You formed my inward parts; You knitted me together in my mother's womb.  I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.  Wonderful are Your works; my soul knows it very well.  My frame was not hidden from You, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.  Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in Your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there were none of them."  If ever there were verses pertaining to the sacred act of creation by God, these verses reflect His sovereignty over human life.  To know that God formed us, knitted us together, created us for His glory and wrote our days in His book of life even before we had experienced one day is nothing short of amazing.
     Another verse precious to my heart is found in Jeremiah 1:5 which reads:  "Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 'Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were formed I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.'"  Jeremiah heard from God about his call which was predestined even before he was formed in the womb.  This is quite a thought to ponder.  Each of us has a precious calling and purpose in our life.  Yet, somehow, we forget that.  Certainly, our society has forgotten this important truth.
Baby Gavin Wells 2 1/2 years ago
     In a recent fact sheet on abortion by the Center for Bio-Ethical Reform, there are approximately 3,700 abortions a day in the United States.  Think about this for a moment.  How many of those babies might have been a doctor with a cure for a dreaded disease, a teacher who could reach many, or a pastor who would have faithfully shared the Word of God?  Even more important, though, with every child lost,  a gift of God is thrown into the trash heap.
     Like many of you, I have heard all the arguments from those who think that terminating a pregnancy is an option especially if a child would be born with problems or if they are unwanted.  However, I have to confess that our special needs grandson is one of the sweetest gifts God could ever have given to our family.  He has devoted parents who give of themselves to provide for his needs.  Is it hard work, discouraging at times, and overwhelming?  I think they would say "yes" but the blessings out weigh the difficulties.  He is teaching us lessons daily as we seek ways to minister to his needs and causing us to trust in God's providence.
     As for children being unwanted, I would point to many people out there who desperately want to adopt a child of their own.  Rather than end the child's life, why not give it a good home with parents who would love, protect and care for this life?  In our own family, we have a nephew who was adopted and what a blessing his life is!  I am grateful as are his parents that his birth mother chose life rather than abortion.
     From the moment of conception until the Lord calls that person home, life is precious.  God gives life and only God has the authority and sovereignty to take it away.  As believers in Jesus Christ, we need to champion the unborn and the aged.  One is fresh from heaven and the other is in God's waiting room.  In both cases, they are precious in His sight and therefore, must be precious in ours.
Four of our precious grandsons:  Aiden, Gavin, Branson and Briggs
     Circumstances in life are rarely convenient or easy to face.  A special needs child or an elderly person with chronic illness are not easy to care for, but they both are precious in the eyes of the Lord.  My prayer is that God will forgive our nation for the many (well over a million) lives that have been cut from the safety of their mother's womb and thrown away, and cause people to turn back to His precepts found in His Word.  Life is a blessing from cradle to grave for it brings glory to the Lord.  May we see with God's eyes and love with His heart young and old alike, and may we take a stand for the sacredness of life.  Selah!


I welcome your comments and thoughts.  Please leave some here on the blog as an encouragement to others.

2 comments:

Christina said...

Congratulations dear Barbara on this wonderful news. Your reflection on the sanctity of life is one that we would all do well to consider. You hit the nail on the head -- life is not easy -- even in the best of circumstances, but life is sacred & it is precious!

A View From Serenity Acres said...

Amen my friend! From beginning to end, we live to glorify the Lord! Blessings and Happy Thanksgiving to you!