I Fight for Life
Nearly every heart is quick to recognize the natural goodness of a newborn. The first smile of an infant, the pealing laughter of a baby, the first "mama" that makes a mother's heart melt. Little feet and little toes, falling over and pausing, briefly stunned at the abrupt contact with the floor. Then getting up again; little hands pushing that fragile body off the ground and tiny legs taking a few more steps before stumbling again. New eyes seeing new colors, new ears hearing new sounds. The world is so vast and large and strange to this young soul. Eventually, she'll find her place in it and grow into a beautiful woman. One day he'll become a kind father. Perhaps she'll write a bestselling novel. Maybe he'll be the kids' favorite teacher. But for now, their futures are unknown to the world and to themselves. At this moment, neither she nor he has been able to laugh their first laugh or speak their first words. Right now, they are both safely tucked inside their mother, growing and developing, awaiting their first moments of interaction outside the womb. It is in this time, where life is so fragile, that not everyone recognizes the right to life for these precious, little souls.
This is the life I fight for. I fight for the worth of every life. I fight for the endless possibility and purpose attached to each and every human being. I fight for the most vulnerable among us. I fight for the unborn. My fight started just like any other: small, tentative, somewhat unsure. A small discussion with friends who agreed. A short prayer for aborted babies. It’s understandable; we all know that fighting for life is far from easy. Eventually, however, my certainty in truth grew, and so too did the depth of my fight. I gained confidence in the truth of life, and I began to challenge pro-abortion friends on their opinions. But although I knew I was speaking truth and logic, I often felt like I wasn’t making a difference. Rather than being discouraged, however, this challenged me and strengthened my determination to make abortion illegal and expose its immorality.
This past year, I had the opportunity to march in the national March for Life in Washington D.C. Before the March, I knew, of course, that there were people who felt the same as my family and I. But seeing thousands of Americans—many my age—coming together to demand the right to life for the unborn was one of the most powerful moments of my life. While at the March, I purchased a sweatshirt that says, “I Am the Pro-Life Generation”. I wear it proudly not only as part of my fight to recognize the right to life of all people, but especially to show other pro-life people and pregnant mothers that they aren’t alone. Finally, I participated in Chalk Day on March 21st, where I received permission from my principal to chalk positive pro-life messages on the sidewalks leading up to my (Catholic) school. This same chalking occurred around the whole country on college and high school campuses and outside of abortion providing facilities.
Moving into next year, I will continue to fight for life. I will continue with what I’m already doing—Chalk Day, wearing my pro-life sweatshirt, and discussing with others—as well as joining in with whatever events my campus’ Students for Life group organizes. One specific plan I have is to join other students with organized prayer outside of Planned Parenthood. I’ve participated once before, and it was powerful. Yes, we received a few jeers and ugly comments, but the sense of rightness we experienced was overwhelming.
Life is the same, inside and outside the womb. The first time a mother feels her baby move inside her is just as precious as the first time a baby laughs. A baby’s first words hold the same breathtaking impact as hearing the baby’s first heartbeat on an ultrasound. I fight not only for first laughs and first words, but also for first heartbeats and first kicks. I fight for mothers and for babies--whether those babies be zygotes, embryos, fetuses, or infants. I fight for life.
The above essay is provided by parishioner Greta Deick, a graduating senior from Lourdes High School. Greta's essay received the First Place Minnesota Right to Life Scholarship.