Special Stories of Life

In times of challenge and times of triumph, we can be joyful in the Lord. As we are faithful to follow in His ways, we can have a sense of expectation of His love. Psalm 16 states:
8 I have set the Lord always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.
9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope.
10 For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.
11 You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Jesus said that He has come to give us abundant life.  That abundance results from having a relationship with Him through salvation - He has come to transfer us from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of life, so that we might know Him and have eternal life. He has ordained our days on earth and gives us our very breath - and the cessation of life on this earth means that we can experience Him even more personally with Him in heaven.  We can rejoice in the author of life!

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When we are confronted with difficult choices, the Word of God is a beacon that God gives us. We are told that the Scriptures offer us the way to life. In Deuteronomy 30, we can read these words:
19 I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;
20 that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them."

We are continuing to pay attention to the U.S. Supreme Court, as it considers the Mississippi abortion law, with the possibility of overturning the precedent it set when Roe v. Wade was handed down in 1973. And, this week, Senators have been hearing from a prospective justice who, in addition to being unable to define what or who a "woman" is, even though she is one, gave a murky answer on her view on the sanctity of life.  Family Research Council stated:

"When does life begin, in your opinion?" Senator John Kennedy (R-La.) asked. The judge answered, "Senator, I don't know. I have personal religious and otherwise beliefs that have nothing to do with the law, in terms of when life begins." When she's ruling on cases, Jackson added, she sets those views aside. Kennedy tried a different approach, inquiring if Jackson believes equal protection of the law applies to human beings. "I actually don't know the answer to that question," the nominee told him. "I'm sorry." Not as sorry as the millions of unborn humans who thought that truth was "self-evident."

Supreme Court justices should consider accurate scientific research when they make decisions, but not try to be scientists themselves.  The Charlotte Lozier Institute stated in a recent press release:

Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson today answered, “I don’t know,” when asked by Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) if an unborn child can feel pain at 20 weeks gestation.

According to modern, peer-reviewed science, her answer should have been, “Absolutely, yes.”

The pro-abortion American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, as well as lawyers working on behalf of the abortion industry, regularly cite a 2010 Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists report as indisputable evidence against fetal pain prior to 24 weeks. The report was co-authored by Dr. Stuart Derbyshire, one of the world’s leading neuroscientists, who for many years was considered a “leading voice against the likelihood of fetal pain.”

However, after objectively considering the growing body of scientific evidence, Dr. Derbyshire changed his long-held position in 2020 and published a peer-reviewed paper in BMJ’s Journal of Medical Ethics concluding that the cortex is not necessary for pain perception, and that “the evidence, and a balanced reading of that evidence, points toward an immediate and unreflective pain experience mediated by the developing function of the nervous system from as early as 12 weeks.”

A professional singer named Keke Wyatt has produced a refreshing, straightforward contrast to the content emerging from the Senate Judiciary Committee.  A Faithwire article says that Wyatt is expecting her 11th child, who has been diagnosed with a genetic condition called Trisomy 13.  She made the announcement at a concert and posted the clip on Instagram - she said that she desired to "encourage other women that might have to face this battle.” But, not all were enthused about it. She responded:

“For all of the disgusting people out there that are wishing ill on me and my baby, say what y’all want about me, I’m use[d] to it,” she continued. “No weapon formed against me will prosper, anyway. BUT a[n] innocent unborn baby?? Be careful putting your mouth on people. I pray that God gives you grace when Life comes knocking on your front door and you won’t reap what [you] are sowing. For all of the POSITIVE stories, emails and support I’m getting THANK YOU! I will not let the negativity drain all of my positive energy. I work hard and my husband and I take care of ALL our children with NO help but GOD’S, OK.”

The article notes that:

In fact, during a 2017 interview with The Christian Post, Wyatt recalled that, at the start of her career, she was encouraged to get an abortion.

She got married to her second husband, Michael Ford, and launched her music career at the same time, she said, adding, “The people I was working with tried to get me to get an abortion and I was like, ‘Excuse me?’ They were like, ‘It’s going to end your career.”

Wyatt absolutely proved her critics wrong.

“So,” she said, “I gave birth, and after I gave birth, I was Keke Wyatt, and I’m still Keke Wyatt.”

Keke's story can be an inspiration to women and their families regarding the sanctity of life. Even though she and her husband made this discovery, they have made the decision to choose life. The world would attempt to devalue this child, but we can recognize the incredible value that each human being has before God. 

And, you have probably heard testimonies of parents of special needs children who speak of the extraordinary love and the abundant grace that God has given to them in what can be a very challenging situation. We know that God has given us the grace and supernatural ability to handle the difficult situations that we may face in following His direction. 

We can also admit that there are those with special needs who have grown up and led incredible lives, testifying to the grace of God. And, even for those who spend very little time on this earth, we can hear stories of how their impact has been amazing on their families, as well as those who are familiar with those stories.  All in all, God is showing Himself to be faithful to those who choose life.