Embracing Life

I've been thinking a lot about LIFE. About my heart. About motherhood. About babies. About what it really means to be pro-life. I'm not afraid of that label and if, in your mind, it carries negative ideas of images, I would propose that it's probably the result of media and propaganda. Pro-life groups are usually EXTREMELY peaceful and full of love and are often denied a voice at every level of government and in many public institutions (every North-American is suppose to have freedom of expression under Charters and Constitutions). They are often supporting mothers and babies with their time, love and money. Saving lives, one at a time. They are brave souls standing before parliamentary committees, promoting the cause of LIFE. I should know. I recently spent a day with them. I'm really ok with the association to these humble, dedicated people. And, coming together as a group to share resources, ideas and efforts to defend the most vulnerable and love the people (mainly women) caught in the grips of this war on life is a brave and noble act.

I've been pondering the question of what it really means to be pro-life and whether my life reflects it well. I've come to realize that it's so much more than a movement or a group. It's more than being against abortion or euthanasia. I believe that being pro-life is a way of life. One quote I recently heard was by a bishop who suggested that being pro-life is fundamentally about "building an active culture of life... by good deeds of love and charity". This makes me think of simple acts to celebrate life such as bringing a batch of muffins to a new mom in your community or sending over a meal to a family that is caring for their aging parents. I think of encouraging struggling mothers and families with gifts of love, time and material help. There are so many things we can do to encourage people to value and cherish life.

As women and mothers, being pro-life is very much about embracing life in our wombs and life around us. It's about changing the attitudes of our hearts and checking ourselves every time our thoughts, words or actions do not celebrate the gift of life! It's about carrying out the incredible task of reflecting God's nurturing, tender heart. Women are the nurturers and the caretakers for the vulnerable ones in our world... young and old. This makes us embassadors of life.

Our attitude towards motherhood and children is a good starting point. Do we love children as our Lord does? Do we understand how valuable the task of motherhood is in God's kingdom? Do we love and cherish motherhood? If I'm sounding idealistic, you need to know that I am well aware of the daily challenges being a mother brings. Raising children is not easy. Serving our families with love and joy is even harder. But, I believe that God can give us His heart and grow us into the place where we truly love motherhood.... most days ;) If we can reflect that to our neighbours and our church, then we are reflecting a special part of God's heart.

We are pro-life only as far as the words we speak, the way we act, the choices we make, the thoughts of our hearts. We often attach worldly conditions to life... as long the father has a good job to support his family, as long as they don't have more than 2 or 3 children, as long as the baby is healthy, as long as grandma's care doesn't take away too many freedoms... as long as... as long as.... Let us strive to cherish, celebrate, embrace and welcome life, no strings attached. This is being Christ-like. This is what being pro-life really is about.

Julie-Anne