by Rebecca Kirch, guest writer for Biking for Babies
The conversation between pro-life and pro-choice advocates has certainly been started and seems to continue in full force each day on social media. Though I rarely contribute to these cyber conversations, I do spend time reading them and observing how pointed they can become. Just the other day, I was reading an interaction between a young woman and her mother. Each was arguing that the others’ stance was flawed because it didn’t have the best interests of women in mind.
That got me thinking.
As I read through their conversation with each other, I was convicted about what I’ve done to walk alongside those who are facing an unexpected pregnancy. I thought back to my first few years out of college and how I spent them working in two different maternity homes; one in Phoenix, AZ and the other in Madison, WI. I often felt unqualified for the daily circumstances that came my way, yet something within me said that my presence, as unqualified as it was, outweighed the alternative of women feeling like they were alone, at the very moment they should feel most empowered.
There were sweet moments throughout my work when I offered my presence to women as their newborns cried frantically through the night, or greeted them in the morning with an encouraging word before they went out to face the difficulties of the day. I came to learn that something rather extraordinary happens when we’re told – rather shown – that we don’t have to weather life’s storms alone. I think that is a true sign of our communion with each other. And communion goes both ways; when we’re in communion with others, we are both giving and receiving.
I think some of the mothers might also use the same sentiments to explain what it felt like to be a part of that type of community.
In fact, I think everyone is called to experience that type of community in their life.
I am not biologically a mother, but I believe that God has written the characteristics of parenthood onto the heart of every person. For some, that parenthood might be displayed as biological parents. For others, that might resemble spiritual, foster, or adoptive parents. We all get a glimpse of the unique parenthood we are called to when we are stretched out of our comfort zones to live with the perspective of others in mind.
Similarly, the people we care for and live in communion with are often the people that bring joy into our lives unlike anything else on earth. And while we all experience deep sadness for a variety of reasons, the sadness becomes something that strengthens us when we know we don’t have to endure it alone. Parents give so much of themselves that they often feel the exhaustion that comes with caring for another. They may wonder how they can ever go on in spite of that exhaustion…and yet they do.
And finally, there’s something beautiful about putting aside your own needs, praying fervently for those you love, and recognizing God’s faithfulness and redemption weaving in and out of your life. Through the many ways the characteristics of parenthood are displayed, we are called to communion with each other. Through that communion, we will recognize that we are not alone.
