Thursday, July 18, 2013

Loving Life and the Mercy of God


    Unfortunately a happy story ended in bittersweetness.  The newly saved baby of the mother I’ve been calling Mary was taken home to be with God. 
    Being pro-life means loving everyone around you as the Lord loves them.  Not surprising, working in this ministry increases your awareness and love for the innocent unborn but another huge blessing is the grace of learning to love people of all ages—loving human life wherever you encounter it.  We spent a lovely afternoon at the art fair just trying to make Mary and Zacharias’ day a little brighter and helping them to understand what we ourselves are learning: that all life is a gift from God. 
    But as we joyfully accept the gifts of God we must also accept the trials he allows to follow behind them.  We received a call informing us that Mary was in the hospital and later that she had miscarried.  Obviously the big question on everyone’s mind was, “Why?  She made the right choice—she was going to keep her baby.  Why would the Lord take him away from her only a day later?” 
    Ultimately the answer is, “Because Adam and Eve sinned,” as we know—but God brings blessings through everything.  We were able to form a relationship with these young parents (and in so doing get a little bit closer ourselves to understanding the love of God).  More importantly, we were able to help them form a relationship with their unborn child.  They saw the baby with their own eyes—they know now without doubt that the unborn are human persons who must be protected. 
    In the Lord’s timing and in His GREAT mercy, He gave them time to change their hearts before the baby’s time on earth was over. 
    In times like this we must say with Job: “The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away—blessed be the name of the Lord.”  (Job 1:21)

Mary and Zacharias with us at the art fair
 
Mary getting a massage while she and Zacharias have a chat with a pro-life therapist (gotta have connections!)
 

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