I have a say because my parents chose life for me. They also chose it for my 4 brothers and 2 sisters. I grew up in a house of love and compassion and caring, of shared sacrifice and commitment to each other. My parents showed us every day with their example how to be good people, how to be kind and generous, and why it is so important to choose life.
We routinely had discussions about the Church and its teachings and why we as Catholics believe and practice certain things. Which is why I find myself incredulous that any of this is even possible. How is it possible that our government is telling a religion what it can and cannot do? In what universe does the United States government tell its citizens how to practice their religion? And tell them, sorry, I know you think this contraception thing is wrong, but we're going to make you do it anyway.
At the age of 20, in the middle of my junior year of college, I found myself pregnant and unmarried. According to Planned Parenthood, I was the perfect candidate to have an abortion. Why should I ruin my life and future by having a baby I wasn't ready for? I should have an abortion and finish college, have a career, and save a baby for later when I was ready, emotionally and financially.
But, I chose life. And because of the way that my parents raised me in the culture of life, in a family where life was so important, I never hesitated. The thought of having an abortion did not pass through my head, not even for a nanosecond. Of course I was going to have a baby. The father of my daughter was the love of my life, who I was already planning on marrying, so we just did it sooner rather than later. Our beautiful daughter was born a month after our wedding. We were young, we were inexperienced, we didn't have much. But we loved each other and our daughter. We took a leap of faith. My husband worked hard to make a good living, and we have since added 5 more children to our family in the last 8 years.
People often ask me if I know what causes children, don't I know what birth control is, am I trying to get a reality show? The answers are yes, yes, and no way! I am just a person who is choosing life. Choosing to be the best mother I can to the children that I have been blessed with. So that they grow up and know how to choose life also.
A lot of people may think that I shouldn't have an opinion because I did something against the Church's teaching by getting pregnant before I was married. But, that's the beauty of our faith. I commit sins, just like everyone else, but I also believe that I can ask for forgiveness in the sacrament of Reconciliation and receive absolution. And the Lord's mercy and love cannot be outdone. Even though a child can be conceived outside marriage, every child should have a chance at life. Every child deserves to live, to learn, to have the opportunity to grow and love and experience everything that life has to offer them. Every child is a gift from God, a miracle to be treasured. And that is why we must all choose life.
A collection of voices expressing thanks that their parents chose life and are thus able to stand up and say "I have a say!!"
I Have A Say Thanks to My Mom and Dad!!!
Being the oldest of 11, I am so thankful, especially now, for my Mom and Dad saying "yes" to life! Growing up, we never had a ton of money. My Dad was a high school chemistry teacher and my parents decided from the beginning that they wanted to have one of them home with us. My mom gave up her teaching career, and raised me, followed by 10 others! My Mom also taught all 11 of us at home for part of our childhood before we would head off to Nativity Catholic Grade School. My Dad worked long hours, eventually earning other degrees so that he could first become dean, then principal, and finally, when I was a sophomore, he was named Roncalli High School's first president. My Dad and Mom both sacrificed SO MUCH for us.
I remember, even as a young person, getting stared at by people, and I remember the comments they would make. I can still hear a dental receptionist asking my Mom "Are these all yours? You know how children are made right?" followed by a real insidious but ditzy chuckle, followed by a secretarial gum crackle. My Mom and Dad were always tight budget wise, and I'm sure at times ached with a desire to not have to take bags of clothes from other families so that we could have clothes. I'm sure my Mom and Dad had desires to simply go to Nordstrom and buy us and give us all our own new clothes and Gameboys and Reebok Pumps etc. I'm sure they at times really wished they could just get a new car and not have to drive a fifteen passenger van around. I'm sure at times they wanted really badly to just go to a restaurant and sit back and enjoy a big expensive meal instead of having to cut coupons and craft together economic meals on the stove.
But they chose life for us, and they chose sacrifice for themselves.
I often think about that ditzy secretary now when our family gets together almost every weekend for dinner to laugh and hang out. Some of the siblings might be out of town or busy with other obligations, but inevitably, all weekend long, every weekend, our family gets together. Sometimes, when we're out at a restaraunt, I see the couples who are alone with each other. They hardly talk to each other and the loneliness is palpable. A part of me feels bad that we're having so much fun with our 8 tables shoved together, telling stories, laughing good hearty and healthy laughs. Sometimes I wonder if one of the couples sitting in the restaurant quietly and solemnly is that dental secretary - who now has piles of money and can eat wherever she wants, but doesn't have hardly anyone to share it with. My heart breaks for the people who are alone, especially the ones who are alone because, when they could have been having children, they instead bought into the contraception lie and lived for themselves only.
I have a say today, and so do my ten younger brothers and sisters, because my parents chose life. Mom and Dad - thanks a million!!!
I remember, even as a young person, getting stared at by people, and I remember the comments they would make. I can still hear a dental receptionist asking my Mom "Are these all yours? You know how children are made right?" followed by a real insidious but ditzy chuckle, followed by a secretarial gum crackle. My Mom and Dad were always tight budget wise, and I'm sure at times ached with a desire to not have to take bags of clothes from other families so that we could have clothes. I'm sure my Mom and Dad had desires to simply go to Nordstrom and buy us and give us all our own new clothes and Gameboys and Reebok Pumps etc. I'm sure they at times really wished they could just get a new car and not have to drive a fifteen passenger van around. I'm sure at times they wanted really badly to just go to a restaurant and sit back and enjoy a big expensive meal instead of having to cut coupons and craft together economic meals on the stove.
But they chose life for us, and they chose sacrifice for themselves.
I often think about that ditzy secretary now when our family gets together almost every weekend for dinner to laugh and hang out. Some of the siblings might be out of town or busy with other obligations, but inevitably, all weekend long, every weekend, our family gets together. Sometimes, when we're out at a restaraunt, I see the couples who are alone with each other. They hardly talk to each other and the loneliness is palpable. A part of me feels bad that we're having so much fun with our 8 tables shoved together, telling stories, laughing good hearty and healthy laughs. Sometimes I wonder if one of the couples sitting in the restaurant quietly and solemnly is that dental secretary - who now has piles of money and can eat wherever she wants, but doesn't have hardly anyone to share it with. My heart breaks for the people who are alone, especially the ones who are alone because, when they could have been having children, they instead bought into the contraception lie and lived for themselves only.
I have a say today, and so do my ten younger brothers and sisters, because my parents chose life. Mom and Dad - thanks a million!!!
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