Today was not what I expected it to be. The overturning of Roe vs. Wade is monumental, and honestly not something I thought I would see in my lifetime.

Today is a day that will go down in history.

Alongside the joy has been a tremendous ache, a wrenching in my gut as I watch people shake their fists in rage. Not just people in the general sense, but also people that I know and love.

That is not to say or imply that I expect everyone within my social sphere to mirror my beliefs. But the issue of abortion is definitely a tough one, and I think that we often avoid discussing our differences on this subject because we all hold our beliefs so strongly.

Here is the reality of the situation: The overturning of Roe vs. Wade does not make abortion illegal. It gives the deciding power back to the individual states, where it rightfully belongs. A lot of states in the US do not favor abortion, which means women living in those states will have more difficulty in acquiring an abortion.

And that’s a good thing.

People are freaking out because they say that limiting abortion hurts women, that it will lead to more back-alley abortions. Sadly, this is likely true. But it doesn’t have to be.

For too long, abortion has been held high, celebrated and normalized as ‘healthcare’. It’s the go-to fix for an “inconvenient” situation. We went from “safe, legal, and rare,” to “shout your abortion!”. It has become an established element of American life and no one blinks an eye anymore. It’s not a big deal, they say; just the removal of a fetus, a clump of cells. Get it done, get on with your day. No one cares anymore.

Family isn’t valued like it used to be, and this is especially true regarding children. Children are seen as a hindrance, a burden; something that weighs you down and puts your life on hold for 18 years. Instead of being seen as valuable and enriching to life, having kids is like an extra add-on once you’re past your youth. After you’ve had a chance to live, then you can go on to have kids.

I’m not saying that everyone must have children, especially at a young age, or that waiting is inherently wrong. What I am trying to say is that as a country, our mindset with regards to family is terribly skewed and contributing to the problem.

I care about women and I don’t want anyone to feel they have to seek out dangerous means to obtain an abortion but maybe, if abortions are harder to come by, women will consider more options. Maybe if we looked at children as a great good, starting a family wouldn’t be so frightening. Maybe we can “give our money, time, and prayers to that end: to render abortion unthinkable because support is so abundant.” (Jen Wilken)

It’s hard; I am not denying that. There are many scenarios where having a child is a really challenging or seemingly impossible thing. Just because I am pro-life doesn’t mean that I am insensitive to that. It absolutely can and likely will change the course of your life, but I also believe that we are responsible for our actions. There are numerous ways to prevent pregnancy – abstinence, condoms, birth control – and while they aren’t always convenient, they work pretty well. I absolutely believe that sex was designed for pleasure (particularly between a husband and wife in marriage), but that is not its sole purpose. It is how we procreate. If you choose to engage in sexual activity, you assume the risk of getting pregnant.

It is true that not all pregnancies come about from consensual sex, and that is a tragedy. Rape is one of the most monstrous things someone can do to another person. But – yes, but – that does not make the killing of that baby acceptable (statistically, rape and incest are among the smallest percentages of why women get abortions).

It isn’t about taking away women’s rights, or women’s power. It isn’t about controlling women’s bodies. It is about protecting unborn children. It’s about restoring sanctity to life.

Abortion doesn’t only kill the baby, it hurts the mother too. Whatever people say, no one emerges without scars.

I can talk until I’m blue in the face, but I don’t really expect to change any minds here. I just felt burdened to write this and share my perspective. It is a weighty day. While this is a huge step toward diminishing abortions, there is still so much that needs to happen. So many underlying problems that need to be addressed to truly help women, to provide workable options, to care for those in need.

During this time where so much of the country is erupting in anger, we need to walk with humility. Celebrate life, absolutely, but don’t gloat. We want to cross the barrier, not build the walls higher. The Bible calls us to defend the cause of the weak and fatherless, to speak for those who have no voice. To value and protect life and to actively work against evil.

“Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter. If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,” does not He who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not He who keeps watch over your soul know it, and will He not repay man according to his work?”
-Proverbs 24:12

We are not guiltless. We are all aware of the thousands of abortions that take place across the country daily. And what are we doing? Are we reaching out in love to hold back those desperate women stumbling toward death? Are we advocating for life and living in a way that is consistent with our beliefs?

What are we doing to hold them back and give them hope?

Celebrate today. Praise God for it. Pray over it, then make a plan of practical, tangible action you can take to support life.