Family Life

After 17 years of waiting...

There are many videos out there depicting birth announcements, and I find them all so moving.  When tears are shed and excitment is felt over welcoming a new spirit into a family, it speaks of a much larger picture.  You can most likely assume that there is a man that loves a woman.  You can assume that they want the best possible future for this little one.   You picture a man that will protect his expectant wife and provide for her.  You see a glowing mother to be as she prepares her home and herself to love and nurture her baby.  This scenerio plays out in homes all over the world.  And when it does, everyone benefits.  Men work harder, try to move up in their positions providing stability for their growing family.  Children are raised in loving stable homes and grow up to be contributing citizens as they follow this pattern.

But what happens when the baby is unwanted?  Here is a woman who was in such a situation, she writes to a "Dear Prudence" an online advice columnist:

Q. Hubby Doesn’t Know: I’ve been married to a great guy for almost three years now. The only problem is that he really wants kids, and I have no desire to put my body through that. A few months ago he wanted to start trying for kids. I agreed, thinking that I could do it for him, but when I realized I was pregnant, I panicked and got an abortion. My husband is starting to worry that we haven’t had any luck and wants to start doing fertility tests. I’m worried that seeing doctors will cause my secret to come out and my husband will leave me. What do I do?

What I found somewhat disturbing is that Prudence is more concerned about the breach of trust, lying, than she is that this woman teminated the life of their child.  How would women take it if a man were to say, "You don't get to be a mother because I don't want our child."  

I think of all the unwanted babies and the implications it implies: Men and women are in relationships that don't involve love and trust.  Lifestyles are more important than life.  Commitment is only o.k. if it's convenient.  

In the bigger picture for society, it paints a gloomy picture for the next generation.

What just happened?  I did not intend for this to be a downer post!  Go back and watch the video of that sweet man shedding tears of joy over the prospect of becoming a father.  More of that and we are going to be just fine!