This year I had the honor of blogging for 40 days for life again. I was a part of this last fall - blogging for the Calgary 40 days for life blog, and in January I went to the side walk in front of the clinic and experienced for the first time the real-ness of this situation and what really happens on the other side of the sidewalk I hear people talking about.
It makes me wonder about how we can be silent about something so important, when lives are ended each and every day.
Here's my thoughts on that one time in January when I went to the sidewalk. God changed me there.
I am so blessed to have had this opportunity to blog for 40 days for life once again, and to use my voice.
One voice, I believe, can make a difference
http://calgary40dfl.blogspot.ca/2012/10/day-31-dear-god.html
Showing posts with label pro-life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pro-life. Show all posts
Friday, October 26, 2012
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Abortion and Special Needs
Something has to be said about the issue of aborting children with special needs. As someone with a genetic condition,considered special needs or disabled (a label I am only proudly embracing only for this post) I would like to speak to that.
One of the most common things I hear when the issue of aborting someone with special needs comes up is that it's more humane to end the suffering now, that it's merciful to end the suffering of a person before it begins.
Over the course of my lifetime I have met many people with special needs or disabilities. Asking many of these people if they would rather have been aborted, rather been spared the hardships they have endured as a result of being born with this condition they have, I have never once heard the answer I would have rather been aborted. I'm not saying there are some people out there who feel their life has more pain and suffering then it's worth, but I am saying for the majority of people out there with special needs or a disability of some sort life is worth it. Actually in having lived life with a disability of some kind, most of the people I've met are more aware of how precious life is, and are less likely to take it for granted. Also, what about the people out there who have changed the world as a result of being disabled or handicapped? Shouldn't we, as handicapped and disabled people, be allowed the chance to try for something great? And yes, I do believe that there is a point when the bad days out number the good and there comes a time we wonder if life is worth it, but shouldn't each individual get to decide for themselves when living isn't worth the price anymore?
When we abort children with special needs we are basing it on one trait. Having Glycogen Storage Disease is only a small part of who I am. I also have blond hair, and love to write. And what's to say that when we draw the line on who can and can't be born that we'll find a test and decide abortion is the best route for kids who don't have a high enough IQ to get int Harvard, or aren't born with blonde hair and blue eyes? There's already gender selective abortion, and abortion for those with serious medical conditions. The message we are sending to the world is that if you aren't born 'perfect', or 'normal', there's no room for you here.
Another thing I hear is that parents won't have what it takes to raise a child with special needs, so then it is kinder to choose abortion rather then have the child be bounced around in foster homes. I have a few things I would like to say to that. First is that what I find is that we as a society try and find a way to estinquish pain and suffering as quickly as possible. There are drugs for labor, headaches, colds and surgery. We try to medicate heart ache and grief. But I have seen great value in suffering and beauty come out of pain. Some of the greatest lessons I've been taught is in times of pain and suffering. There is something great and valuable that comes out of suffering.
Also, there are many families out there waiting to adopt a child who just might have special needs. They have so much love to give, they want this child. Isn't that a much kinder option then choosing abortion?
I know my parents have gone through much in order to raise me. It hasn't been easy on my parents raising a child who requires multiple hospital visits per year, who requires expensive drugs to sustain life, but I am so grateful they did choose life for me. I am their child, and I have heard many times that if I had been born healthy I wouldn't be their Alisha, the child they have loved since the moment they found out my mom was pregnant.
If you were to ask me now if I am grateful for the life I have been given I would tell you 100% yes. And if you were to ask me if I could go back and change everything, if I could have been born healthy and not have gone through everything I have gone through, I would tell you I wouldn't change a thing. While it has been hard and painful and challenging I have learned so much, met so many amazing people and got to experience things I wouldn't have gotten to otherwise.
I am so grateful for the life I've been given, for the parents who have loved me, believed in me and raised me to believe I can do anything I set my mind to, and that being sick isn't a disability or a handicap. I'm just me, unique, special and loved. I have a heart full of love to give, inspiration to share and a story to tell. I have blond hair, love to write, have a passion for life and... oh yeah, I just happen to be a little different then you.
God doesn't make mistakes, He only makes miracles.
One of the most common things I hear when the issue of aborting someone with special needs comes up is that it's more humane to end the suffering now, that it's merciful to end the suffering of a person before it begins.
Over the course of my lifetime I have met many people with special needs or disabilities. Asking many of these people if they would rather have been aborted, rather been spared the hardships they have endured as a result of being born with this condition they have, I have never once heard the answer I would have rather been aborted. I'm not saying there are some people out there who feel their life has more pain and suffering then it's worth, but I am saying for the majority of people out there with special needs or a disability of some sort life is worth it. Actually in having lived life with a disability of some kind, most of the people I've met are more aware of how precious life is, and are less likely to take it for granted. Also, what about the people out there who have changed the world as a result of being disabled or handicapped? Shouldn't we, as handicapped and disabled people, be allowed the chance to try for something great? And yes, I do believe that there is a point when the bad days out number the good and there comes a time we wonder if life is worth it, but shouldn't each individual get to decide for themselves when living isn't worth the price anymore?
When we abort children with special needs we are basing it on one trait. Having Glycogen Storage Disease is only a small part of who I am. I also have blond hair, and love to write. And what's to say that when we draw the line on who can and can't be born that we'll find a test and decide abortion is the best route for kids who don't have a high enough IQ to get int Harvard, or aren't born with blonde hair and blue eyes? There's already gender selective abortion, and abortion for those with serious medical conditions. The message we are sending to the world is that if you aren't born 'perfect', or 'normal', there's no room for you here.
Another thing I hear is that parents won't have what it takes to raise a child with special needs, so then it is kinder to choose abortion rather then have the child be bounced around in foster homes. I have a few things I would like to say to that. First is that what I find is that we as a society try and find a way to estinquish pain and suffering as quickly as possible. There are drugs for labor, headaches, colds and surgery. We try to medicate heart ache and grief. But I have seen great value in suffering and beauty come out of pain. Some of the greatest lessons I've been taught is in times of pain and suffering. There is something great and valuable that comes out of suffering.
Also, there are many families out there waiting to adopt a child who just might have special needs. They have so much love to give, they want this child. Isn't that a much kinder option then choosing abortion?
I know my parents have gone through much in order to raise me. It hasn't been easy on my parents raising a child who requires multiple hospital visits per year, who requires expensive drugs to sustain life, but I am so grateful they did choose life for me. I am their child, and I have heard many times that if I had been born healthy I wouldn't be their Alisha, the child they have loved since the moment they found out my mom was pregnant.
If you were to ask me now if I am grateful for the life I have been given I would tell you 100% yes. And if you were to ask me if I could go back and change everything, if I could have been born healthy and not have gone through everything I have gone through, I would tell you I wouldn't change a thing. While it has been hard and painful and challenging I have learned so much, met so many amazing people and got to experience things I wouldn't have gotten to otherwise.
I am so grateful for the life I've been given, for the parents who have loved me, believed in me and raised me to believe I can do anything I set my mind to, and that being sick isn't a disability or a handicap. I'm just me, unique, special and loved. I have a heart full of love to give, inspiration to share and a story to tell. I have blond hair, love to write, have a passion for life and... oh yeah, I just happen to be a little different then you.
God doesn't make mistakes, He only makes miracles.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Kony 2012 is not my passion... part 2
To me, it's all an extension of prolife... Understanding the intrinsic value of each tiny life... In the womb, or kidnapped from their bed in Africa. I might not understand the vision of this particular organization that is calling the united states military into action, but I stand with my brothers and sisters that want to see an end to injustice, and protection of the innocent
The whole issue of Kony 2012 is confusing me. I don't know a whole lot about it, so I am just posting inklings of my not fully formed thoughts. The comment above (on my initial post... you can read it HERE) was thought provoking, and once I read it I knew THAT was what I wanted to say.
Like the comment said, I don't understand the vision of this particular organization that is calling the US military into action. I don't doubt that Kony is a criminal, but the whole organization of Kony 2012, the whole idea of getting the US military involved... that causes me to pause. The issue of Kony 2012 is something I've been wrestling with ever since I watched the video for the first time. It breaks my heart to hear of these great injustices going on in our world. I believe that every life is of value, in being a voice for the voiceless.
I guess with saying all that, I believe that Kony is an evil man and needs to be stopped, and that behind the Kony 2012 campaign are good intentions, but I don't believe in Kony 2012.
http://visiblechildren.tumblr.com.nyud.net/ (I'd encourage you to read this article (I liked it, and found it made me think) read a bit more into it and develop your own opinion before jumping on the Kony 2012 bandwagon.)
Kony 2012 is not my passion...
But it should be. Humanity is crying out for justice. The battle is here, inthis decade, in this year, in this broken world. There is a challenge waiting
for me, right here, right now, to respond.
I imagine there were many who murmured to the abolitionists, "The
freedom ofthose slaves... it's not my passion..." or during the Holocaust,
"i'm not evenpart Jewish..." It's easy for us now to look back, and cry to the ones whoshould have spoken up against injustice, "it's so clear!"*
When my children one day look back on this year, on this act
of injustice, on little children being taken away from their homes and
families andforced to become soldiers and slaves, will the thought of it be
as horrible tothem as the thought of the Holocaust is to me? I want to be
able to tell them this injustice broke my heart too
Monday, January 23, 2012
The Sidewalk...
This weekend I went to Calgary. It's right before exams (Which start tomorrow) and right in the middle of everything else going on in my life, and I was worried before about how everything would work.
On Saturday around supper time, Cairo's mama (Cairo's been my best friend since before kindergarten) was going to a 40 days for life meeting. 40 days for life, for those of you who may not know, if a pro-life organization. A while ago I linked you all to a post I wrote that was published on the 40 days for life Calgary blog. (If you missed reading that, you can check it out Here)
Anyway, Cairo and I decided to go with her to this meeting. I had wanted to go to a meeting for a while, and to be part of this whole 40 days for life thing. So we got into the vehicle and started driving to the place where this meeting would be held, right across the street from the clinic. We arrived there a bit early, and decided to walk across the street to stand on the sidewalks across the way from the clinic and pray.
It was cold, the kind of cold that only January winters in Alberta can bring, but that wasn't why I was shaking inside my thick coat. It was standing on the sidewalk that it all felt so real to me. Everyday, thousands of tiny lives are ended, right inside those doors. And right on the other side of those windows, women walk out forever changed.
I always knew it was real before, but standing on the sidewalk, it was more real then it's ever been for me. I felt my heart aching, for everything that takes place inside those walls. I wanted to cry out and ask God "What are we doing? Why are we, as the country of Canada, and as a nation, doing this?" I didn't do that, but instead prayed silently, for everything that happens inside those walls. I prayed that we would be a nation who sees, and a nation who does. I prayed for every woman who walks in those doors thinking there's no other way, and that she would see hope. And with the absence of words, I simply prayed "Dear God."
We only stayed on the sidewalk for a few minutes, but in those minutes I felt something I'd never felt before, not only having a clearer view of what's going on, but a call to action.
Life is precious, no matter what.
On Saturday around supper time, Cairo's mama (Cairo's been my best friend since before kindergarten) was going to a 40 days for life meeting. 40 days for life, for those of you who may not know, if a pro-life organization. A while ago I linked you all to a post I wrote that was published on the 40 days for life Calgary blog. (If you missed reading that, you can check it out Here)
Anyway, Cairo and I decided to go with her to this meeting. I had wanted to go to a meeting for a while, and to be part of this whole 40 days for life thing. So we got into the vehicle and started driving to the place where this meeting would be held, right across the street from the clinic. We arrived there a bit early, and decided to walk across the street to stand on the sidewalks across the way from the clinic and pray.
It was cold, the kind of cold that only January winters in Alberta can bring, but that wasn't why I was shaking inside my thick coat. It was standing on the sidewalk that it all felt so real to me. Everyday, thousands of tiny lives are ended, right inside those doors. And right on the other side of those windows, women walk out forever changed.
I always knew it was real before, but standing on the sidewalk, it was more real then it's ever been for me. I felt my heart aching, for everything that takes place inside those walls. I wanted to cry out and ask God "What are we doing? Why are we, as the country of Canada, and as a nation, doing this?" I didn't do that, but instead prayed silently, for everything that happens inside those walls. I prayed that we would be a nation who sees, and a nation who does. I prayed for every woman who walks in those doors thinking there's no other way, and that she would see hope. And with the absence of words, I simply prayed "Dear God."
We only stayed on the sidewalk for a few minutes, but in those minutes I felt something I'd never felt before, not only having a clearer view of what's going on, but a call to action.
Life is precious, no matter what.
Monday, November 14, 2011
28056 ~ Pro Life Forum
For NaNoWriMo this year, I've been involved in the forums. It's a great way to get support in my writing journey, and I've met a few really great other young Christian writers.
One of the forums I've become involved in this year is a Pro-Life forum. Since the theme of my book has to do with Pro-life, I was hoping to get a new perspective and just some ideas on where to go with my novel.
Our conversation is on abortion. The main question we've been on was "If abortion murder?" But we've expanded on to when the baby becomes an actual person and the mother's choice.
It's been a tough forum. I've been listening to every side, weighing in and offering my opinion in a non-judgemental sort of way. It's hard, to honestly believe something with your whole heart, and have other people against you, and to offer your opinion and beliefs in a non-judgemental way.
Why is the baby considered more of a human at 20 weeks then it was at 19? Why is a baby not considered a human, despite the beating heart and brain waves and hands and feet, just because it can't live apart from it's mother?
Why, because the baby hasn't yet reached a certain stage, is it not considered a human? Wouldn't that be like killing a newborn because it can't yet walk or talk?
Weighing in on this debate has been hard, but I won't let my voice go unheard. I won't let them say "She did nothing."
I won't stand here and let the innocent be killed and not do anything.
One of the forums I've become involved in this year is a Pro-Life forum. Since the theme of my book has to do with Pro-life, I was hoping to get a new perspective and just some ideas on where to go with my novel.
Our conversation is on abortion. The main question we've been on was "If abortion murder?" But we've expanded on to when the baby becomes an actual person and the mother's choice.
It's been a tough forum. I've been listening to every side, weighing in and offering my opinion in a non-judgemental sort of way. It's hard, to honestly believe something with your whole heart, and have other people against you, and to offer your opinion and beliefs in a non-judgemental way.
Why is the baby considered more of a human at 20 weeks then it was at 19? Why is a baby not considered a human, despite the beating heart and brain waves and hands and feet, just because it can't live apart from it's mother?
Why, because the baby hasn't yet reached a certain stage, is it not considered a human? Wouldn't that be like killing a newborn because it can't yet walk or talk?
Weighing in on this debate has been hard, but I won't let my voice go unheard. I won't let them say "She did nothing."
I won't stand here and let the innocent be killed and not do anything.
Friday, November 4, 2011
8136 ~ Worth the Chance
Hey you,
You, the ones who thought I would be better off dead because my designer genes don’t fit with the world’s definition of normal. You, who thought that since my life would be different, it wasn’t worth living. You, who thought this world would be better off without me and my disease, by saving me from the pain that goes along with my life, you would have spared me from making a difference in the life of that one, and that one, and that one, and that one.
If you’d have killed me out of mercy, you’d never have had the chance to find out who I’d become. Maybe I’d find the cure for cancer or AIDS. Maybe I’d find a way to stop world hunger. Maybe I’d be the one to save the life of your mother or father, husband or wife, son or daughter or brother or sister. Maybe I’d change the world, or maybe I’d just change one life.
But then again, if you got your way, you’d never know. Because you didn’t think I was worth the chance.
You, the ones who thought I would be better off dead because my designer genes don’t fit with the world’s definition of normal. You, who thought that since my life would be different, it wasn’t worth living. You, who thought this world would be better off without me and my disease, by saving me from the pain that goes along with my life, you would have spared me from making a difference in the life of that one, and that one, and that one, and that one.
If you’d have killed me out of mercy, you’d never have had the chance to find out who I’d become. Maybe I’d find the cure for cancer or AIDS. Maybe I’d find a way to stop world hunger. Maybe I’d be the one to save the life of your mother or father, husband or wife, son or daughter or brother or sister. Maybe I’d change the world, or maybe I’d just change one life.
But then again, if you got your way, you’d never know. Because you didn’t think I was worth the chance.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
a teen's perspective...
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”
And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” Isaiah 6:8
http://calgary40dfl.blogspot.com/2011/10/day-14-teens-perspective.html
And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” Isaiah 6:8
http://calgary40dfl.blogspot.com/2011/10/day-14-teens-perspective.html
Sunday, October 9, 2011
A person's a person no matter how small...
For a while now, the whole pro-life issue has been one on my mind. Maybe it's because we're in the middle of the 40 day's for life, a pro-life movement consisting of prayer, a peaceful vigil and community out reach. Maybe it's because my best friend's mama, who I look up to and admire, is involved in this (She is blogging for the 40 day's for life, Calgary. Find her page here http://www.calgary40dfl.blogspot.com/)
Either way, Pro-life has been on my mind a lot lately. Usually when I hear the term pro-life, it's regarding abortion. It's the choice of choosing life for this unborn child. And when it is said like that, I always thought that "Yes, I am pro-life." But recently, I've come to wonder if maybe pro-life is more then just saying no when it comes to abortion. Maybe pro-life is the value, the preciousness of human life. Maybe pro-life is realizing that this life is a gift. Maybe it's standing up for those who can't stand up for themselves, fighting for those that are unable to fight for themselves. I think pro-life is more then just abortion, though when most people consider pro-life that is the first thing that comes to mind, I know it did for me. But maybe pro-life is more then just protecting the unborn babies of this country. Maybe it's being just that, pro-life. Maybe it's supporting the preciousness of life, no matter how small the life is.
Recently, I've been taking time for prayer. I know that sounds silly, but it's true. It's not much, just a few minutes a couple times a week, to go before God in prayer. Besides asking Him to soften my heart, I've been asking for something else to, praying for something else. I've been praying for life. I've been praying for all those girls and all those women who walk into the abortion clinic, thinking there is no other way. I've been praying for that family in the hospital whose child, sibling, self, whatever, is being forced to live life with a chronic illness, when some others think it would be kinder to Euthanize. I've been praying for hope to be shone into the darkest corners, and for love to find a way to peer through the clouds.. I've been praying, simply for life. Because every life is valuable. Every life is precious. And because the term pro-life means so much more then simply standing against abortion.
So yeah, I'm pro-life
"It all seemed so wrong. I said to myself, 'Somebody ought to do something about this!" Then I realized that I am somebody"
Either way, Pro-life has been on my mind a lot lately. Usually when I hear the term pro-life, it's regarding abortion. It's the choice of choosing life for this unborn child. And when it is said like that, I always thought that "Yes, I am pro-life." But recently, I've come to wonder if maybe pro-life is more then just saying no when it comes to abortion. Maybe pro-life is the value, the preciousness of human life. Maybe pro-life is realizing that this life is a gift. Maybe it's standing up for those who can't stand up for themselves, fighting for those that are unable to fight for themselves. I think pro-life is more then just abortion, though when most people consider pro-life that is the first thing that comes to mind, I know it did for me. But maybe pro-life is more then just protecting the unborn babies of this country. Maybe it's being just that, pro-life. Maybe it's supporting the preciousness of life, no matter how small the life is.
Recently, I've been taking time for prayer. I know that sounds silly, but it's true. It's not much, just a few minutes a couple times a week, to go before God in prayer. Besides asking Him to soften my heart, I've been asking for something else to, praying for something else. I've been praying for life. I've been praying for all those girls and all those women who walk into the abortion clinic, thinking there is no other way. I've been praying for that family in the hospital whose child, sibling, self, whatever, is being forced to live life with a chronic illness, when some others think it would be kinder to Euthanize. I've been praying for hope to be shone into the darkest corners, and for love to find a way to peer through the clouds.. I've been praying, simply for life. Because every life is valuable. Every life is precious. And because the term pro-life means so much more then simply standing against abortion.
So yeah, I'm pro-life
"It all seemed so wrong. I said to myself, 'Somebody ought to do something about this!" Then I realized that I am somebody"
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