Why I’m Opposed To Abortion

Abortion Memorial (Photo credit: DrGBB)

It seems like in modern day America the “abortion rights” debate is one that has been hijacked by corrupt politicians. The Republicans use it as a rallying cry to get God fearing souls to the polls. The Democrats send out millions of mass emails alerting washed up graying hippies that there’s an ongoing war against women.

In the end, both sides usually get what they want, more passionate voters ready to do whatever it may take to get their guy elected.

But coming from one who’s been around politics just long enough, I can say for a certainty that it’s all a charade – contrary to what the Huffington Post may tell you, there is absolutely NO war against women. Contrary to what anyone who has an (R) beside their name may tell you, abortion isn’t going anywhere. And, even if there was a chance to put an end to the slaughter, the majority of Republicans would lack the fortitude to carry through with it… because like most all politicians, they’re spineless glory seekers in a never ending pursuit of an even greater title.

Which brings me to this article’s title: Why I’m opposed to abortion.

No political spin here, just one man getting honest about his life.

The year was 1984. The setting – the dusty coalfields of West Virginia.

My mother, a 16-year-old cheerleader, with a promising future, discovered she was pregnant. Immediately her life was thrown into a tailspin.

Unsure of what to do, she confided in a trusted teacher at her local public high school. “What should I do?” she asked.

Moments later the teacher made my mother an offer that simply seemed too good to be true. She offered a way for my mother’s mistake to be erased completely… free of charge. “No one will ever have to know. You’ll get to keep your future.” she quietly assured my mother – offering to drive her to an abortion clinic the following day.

Briefly contemplating the offer, my shaking mother boldly replied – “under no circumstance.”

The following day, she initiated the most difficult conversation she ever had with her parents and began preparing for motherhood.

There were no MTV producers knocking on her door. There were no rallies, celebrating her decision. There truthfully weren’t very many sympathetic words from anyone … but she pressed forward, simply because it was the right thing to do, demonstrating more conviction at the age of sixteen than most people have acquired by age sixty.

Shortly thereafter she and my father were married. At the age of seventeen, she had a baby. The following year she graduated from high school.

Did my mother miss out by having me? Absolutely.

While her friends were busy making memories in their senior year of high school, worrying about prom dresses and hair-dos, my mother was worrying about a goofy looking baby’s diaper rash. While her friends were busy making memories in college, my mother was busy helping her struggling son learn to tie his shoe and so were spent the next twenty-one years.

But it was because of those sacrifices, that I have been fortunate enough to have stood before congressmen, senators and even Presidents.

It was because of those sacrifices, that I have been fortunate enough to have stood before thousands of people, offering feeble words, seasoned by the Spirit of God, empowered enough to change lives for an eternity.

I, who am nothing, have been used to see broken homes welded back together. Lives altered for the better. Souls reached with God’s salvation… Simply because my mother stepped up to the plate and accepted responsibility.

She refused to listen to those who were begging her not to accept responsibility. She refused to listen to those who were blaming the government for not providing her with birth control.

She accepted responsibility for her actions and raised someone who will be there for her when she is old and feeble. (A lot can be said for my father as well. He didn’t go looking for another government office that could throw in a few extra dollars into the new family’s hat… He went out looking for a job).

In an age where accepting responsibility is something unheard of, I would simply like to say that I will forever be grateful to the God of Heaven for giving me a mother who weighed the costs, but still chose to accept responsibility… and that is one woman you will never see in a nursing home.