Sunday, January 23, 2011

Sanctity of Life Week

This year, Sanctity of Life Sunday and Sanctity of Life Week are especially poignant for our family. My daughter, Joan, is pregnant and her baby is due mid-summer. She wrote this letter to her baby last night, and allowed me to share it.

"Dear baby,
Right now you are thirteen weeks old. You can hear and your vocal chords and teeth buds are forming. Every week you grow more, and can do more things. Your life is a blessing, and truly amazing.

I didn't plan on having you at age eighteen, but God did. He knew from before I was born, that I would have you at only eighteen. He knows now if you are a boy or girl, and He has a plan for your life, as well as mine. No, I didn't plan on having you. And when I found out I was scared, because I'm not married yet. But your daddy and I are going to be married a month after you are born. And we both love you so much! We cannot wait for you to get here.

Baby, you have turned my life upside down in the best possible way. I wasn't living my life according to what God would want, and I distanced myself from him, and was into bad things that I shouldn't have been into. I wasn't praying daily anymore like I used to. I never touched my Bible. And I definitely wasn't going to church. But God had a plan to save me, and His plan was you.

Telling everyone was the hardest thing I have ever had to do, baby. Especially my parents. I love my parents so much, but I sinned when I conceived you. But I wouldn't take it back for the world, this is what God had planned. Even so, I was in the wrong, and I knew that. And I was scared to tell my parents. I knew they would be sad, and disappointed, and even angry. But my sweet child, I never could abort you. I have always been Pro Life, but when it comes down to living out my belief, and not aborting you, it was hard. I knew I wouldn't do it, even if it was the easier way out. Your life is a miracle. And I smile every day because I know God made a beautiful creature that grows inside me every day. I get up and go to my classes at Auburn University even when I really don't want to, for you. I'm striving to get A's in all my classes because I want to be able to finish college and get a good job so I can help your daddy support you. I want you to have a wonderful life, and I pray that you seek God every day of it.

I also want you to know about how many other wonderful people you have out here who already love you and cannot wait to meet you. You have two sets of grandparents, and even some great-grandparents! You have four sweet aunts, and five loving uncles! You also have four cousins and many many other family member that love you.

I wrote this letter to you because it is the sanctity of life week, and I want you to know about how your life started. I also want you to know that I love you so much, and God loves you more than you can fathom. I will love you forever, and I will always be here for you.
Love,
Your Mommy"

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18 Comments:

Blogger Jennie C. said...

Oh, Laura. God bless her and her little baby.

Lots of love.

1:35 PM  
Blogger Laura said...

Thank you, Jennie.

1:52 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wow. Just wow. Thank you for sharing. What a beautiful letter and a beautiful love.

2:24 PM  
Blogger Baleboosteh said...

Thank you so much, Joan and Laura, for sharing this beautiful letter. May God richly bless you, your husband to be and your precious baby.

2:37 PM  
Blogger Dana in Georgia said...

May the Lord bless and keep you and your growing family, Laura.

Joan's testimony is powerful and I know the Lord will work it for His Good.

Dana in GA

3:58 PM  
Blogger Sherry said...

Thank you and Joan for sharing such a tender, private part of your lives. I have children who are grown, about Joan's age, and not serving or following the Lord. I pray for them, not an unplanned pregnancy, but Something that will open their eyes and turn them back to the God who loves them. Whatever it takes . . .

6:15 PM  
Blogger Amy @ Hope Is the Word said...

Thanks for sharing this very poignant letter. May God bless your daughter and this precious child!

9:13 PM  
Anonymous Penny said...

Beautiful and well done.

10:07 AM  
Blogger Christian - Modobject@Home said...

This absolutely brought tears to my eyes... I can't think of a better tribute to the sanctity of life than the personal testimony of one who is being tried and tested, and proving faithful. I praise God for the work that He is doing in Joan's life and in the life of your family; and I praise God for this precious covenant child. May he or she only know life in the fulness of God's mercy and grace.

10:48 AM  
Blogger Margo said...

amazing. Thank you so much for sharing this - the redemption that we have in God and the love of our families. May this be a blessed child in a blessed family.

10:50 AM  
Blogger Jan said...

Wow, Laura. That was a beautiful letter, and I'm so glad you shared it. Congratulations to all of you!

5:43 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

My heart goes out to you all. As the mother of grown and growing children I think the years of young adulthood have been far harder (on them as well as me) than I ever imagined. Though the faith they were raised with is true and everlasting, it must be personal to be applicable. My prayer is that it will be. May God grant His mercy on us. H

10:18 AM  
Blogger Tracy Batchelder said...

I know what your daughter is feeling, because my story is very similar. Putting God first will make all the difference in her life. It has in mine.

11:22 AM  
Blogger Susan said...

Laura, what a beautiful letter. Thank you so much for sharing this with all of us. If you ever, I mean ever, need anything I'm just a phone call away. I love you.
Susan

4:01 PM  
Blogger Becks said...

Thank you for sharing this with us all.
I was a very young mama myself, only 16 when our baby first began to grow inside of me, yet 23 years later I wouldn't change a thing. And that little baby went on to become a young mama herself, only slightly older than her mama before her yet we still feel truly blessed each day to have been given the opportunity to do just that - become mothers and share in the wonder of blossoming life.
Blessings to you and your family.
xx

5:04 PM  
Blogger Lisa Kay said...

Laura,

Bless you and your family. Babies are so amazing. Truly a miracle.

Lisa

4:21 PM  
Blogger Cecilia said...

Bless your daughter and your (growing!) family.

((I didn't know how to email you, but I wanted to share my FO
http://icouldwhileawaythehours.blogspot.com/2011/02/hexagon-happiness-finished.html))

12:43 PM  
Blogger Donna Boucher said...

Thank you for sharing your beautiful story of love and redemption and a baby on the way.

All things work together for good...

7:01 AM  

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