Life and Death

We are now 1-2 days beyond the celebration and anniversary of two major events in the United States... one makes me thankful for how far our country has come and the other saddens me deeply.  I'm referring to Martin Luther King Day and the anniversary of Roe vs. Wade.  It's ironic that one celebrates mankind and his uniqueness, and the other snuffs out the life of the smallest of human beings.

When I was growing up MLK day was not celebrated in our circles... sad, I know.  I don't think I really came to understand Martin Luther King and his mission until my children started attending the public school and it was taught to them each year in January.  I am thankful for that teaching.  My children are growing up with a better education in this area than I did.  I want my kids, like MLK to value each human being and recognize that we are ALL created in the image of God.

So God created man in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.  (Genesis 1:27)

Yesterday, January 22nd was the 40th anniversary of the Supreme Court ruling in the Roe vs. Wade decision.  I recently read somewhere that young adults today have no idea what Roe vs. Wade means... how sad!  So I asked my kids at supper last night if they knew.  My 13 year old had heard of it, but wasn't able to tell me what the case was about and my 10 and 6 year old didn't know anything about the ruling (which didn't surprise me).  I doubt this is an issue that is addressed in our public schools, so we had a little homeschooling last night as I explained to them the significance Roe vs. Wade has had on our country in the past 40 years.  As we prayed last night, I asked God to bless our local Pregnancy Resource Center and the great work they are doing and we prayed for young girls who recently learned they are pregnant and are scared.  We prayed they would make a good choice in carrying their baby to term.

This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him.  (Deuteronomy 30:19-20a)

Even though we are a couple days beyond these two significant events in history, I would encourage you to engage your kids on these two issues.  They are so similar in nature; however, one brought about great change for our country and unfortunately the other is continuing to take lives.  Talk about it and pray about it with your children.