I got into a brief conversation with two girls in the locker room at the Y this morning about IUD’s. They couldn’t believe that I got pregnant with the paragard and we all laughed and they went on to joke about scheduling a vasectomy for their husbands. But, as they were walking away, I heard one of them say, “dear God, I would just terminate if that happened to me.”

Terminate. Kill their baby. And I couldn’t stop the tears. I thought of several dear friends who would give anything to have their own baby and might never have the opportunity. I thought of the law that’s just been passed in NY allowing late term abortions. I thought about how abortions are a fraction of the cost of adoptions. And then, I thought of the shock I felt seeing two pink lines on a pregnancy test when the “plan” was to wait at least another year or two before growing our family. When I think about the unexpected but perfect timing of my sweet girl, it’s so evident that Jesus was in every detail and has a special plan and purpose for her life. She has already, just in these short 9 months, brought unexplainable peace and joy to our family.

My heart is so burdened for the careless disregard for human life. It’s not even a disregarding of life anymore, it’s a celebration of the “right” to end it. What a scary, heartbreaking time to raise children. How do we teach them that what’s “normal” in today’s society breaks the heart of our Maker? How do we protect them from such evil while simultaneously teach them to boldly go into the darkness and proclaim the gospel with love? Why are we so afraid to take a stand and speak truth?

I don’t have all the answers, but I know the words that girl spoke as she was walking away will be ringing in my ears for a good, long time. I’ll be saying an extra prayer and hugging my little unexpected surprise a little tighter today.

“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33