What An Abortion Decision Did For Us

How would your life be if Joanne Schiebel had chosen an abortion? Unwed, not wishing to be married, abortions were dangerous and illegal when she became pregnant.  Her options were  limited.

Joanne’s decision to give her child up for adoption changed a number of lives. First of all hers, then the adoptive parents, before we even get to the child.

I know from personal experience how my husband’s adoption changed his parent’s lives. They took in two boys, gained two daughters-in-law, six grandchildren, along with years of Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, birthdays and vacations with those they loved.

Joanne’s child gained that in adoption, too. He gained two parents, though I understand he retained a connection to his mother.

Agree with Catholics or not, read Greg Kandra’s blog from October 2nd, Respect Life Sunday, and the beginning of Respect Life month, about Joanne and her choice – the same choice facing millions of women each year.

Options are not limited today, are they? Abortions are done easily, daily and regulations are in place to see that they are safe. So quickly women head back to their lives without another thought of the baby they did not want. Our culture tells them that’s just fine.

Greg Kandra suggests:

This nightmare will end when we acknowledge that life is inconvenient, and difficult, and unplanned. But nothing, and no one, is ever unplanned or unwanted when the one doing the planning and the wanting is God.
This nightmare will end when we realize, at last, that love is greater than fear.

So, what did Joanne’s abortion decision do for us?  For all of us? It gave us the Macintosh, the iPod, iPhone, iPad, for Joanne’s unaborted child was Steve Jobs.

Greg Kandra also challenges those who hear, and read, his words:

“Respect life” is more than just a catchphrase.  It needs to be a way of living. Respect life. Not just in the womb, but everywhere, at every time, in all circumstances — within our families, our communities, the places we work and do business.  It means treating every life with dignity, and honoring every life as a gift.
Doing that, moment by moment, we will begin to change the culture.

I do not agree with many of Steve Jobs’ choices in life, but I really do agree with that one his mother made, to choose life.

I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: (Deuteronomy 30:19 KJV)