Well it seems as good a day to share this as any…

I noticed a Facebook update from a dear friend today asking her friends to refrain from posting anything about abortion and/or gay marriage. Obviously any discussion on either of these topics becomes highly offensive to both sides.

But I want to share something about abortion; I want to share the reason why I side with the pro-life camp.

The topic of abortion hits much closer to home for me than just being an activist or spreading this stuff because I’m your friendly neighborhood Jesus freak. I don’t go and hold placards outside Planned Parenthood or any other abortion clinics and I don’t chastise women who have had abortions. I won’t hate on anyone, call you a murderer or turn my back on you. I have had some dear friends confide in me their own decisions AND the horrible turmoil they went through before, during and after their wishes were carried out. When I say I side with the pro-life camp it’s just my position on the topic. My actions consist of no more than simply not aborting a baby and asking you to consider why abortion may not be morally right under normal (or any) circumstances.

I shared a link a couple of weeks ago on my own Facebook to a movie called 180. The 180 Movie is stirring up a considerable amount of controversy for the way in which its creator – Ray Comfort – compares the abortion industry to the holocaust. The movie is quickly approaching a million views, which is quite the feat for a 33-minute movie. What’s most shocking to me about the movie itself is the revelation of the numbers that I’ve never considered before: Abortion in America has taken the lives of 60 million people. Furthermore, and unrelated to the 180 Movie, in China, the one-child policy has caused the loss of roughly 400 million more lives.

But nevermind the numbers. I’m passionate about the topic of abortion because of my own story. I was adopted. Why?

My birth mother was 13 years old.

I thank God every day that she didn’t get an abortion… that she couldn’t get an abortion in 1975. I’m grateful that by the time the pregnancy was discovered she was already 5 months or so along and no doctor would go through with it. If I were conceived today I never would have made it to this world.

I’m grateful for my own life.

I’m grateful that my life was spared. I’m grateful that my parents found two babies to adopt so that I grew up in a family where I knew I belonged and was wanted and could be cared for. I’m grateful my birth mom had parents who continued to love her while she dealt with the consequences of having a baby so young. My parents always told me I was adopted and why but I’m grateful that I have come to learn the whole story… or most of it anyway.

I’m grateful there’s a story to be told.

I’m sorry if my being passionate about this topic offends you. I’m sorry if my asking you to reconsider your own stance on abortion is offensive also. But I can’t not share my heart.

And I hope my friends will forgive me and see that I mean no harm.

Here’s The 180 Movie if you’re curious… 180 Movie