My younger brother was born with Spina Bifida, Myelomeningocele. That means a sac of fluid came through an opening in his back, with part of his spinal cord and nerves in the sack being damaged beyond repair. He was born paralyzed from the chest down. In addition, he needed a shunt to control the fluid on his brain.

Abortion was NEVER considered an option for my mother, nor was it even brought up by her OB/GYN. Keep in mind this was about 55 years ago, and technology was not as far along as it is now. The doctors knew something was wrong, but could not define it until after he was born. Even then, with only a one-year life expectancy, my parents were determined to love him and care for him the best they could, in spite of his handicap. Eventually, he had over 20 surgeries to try and fix his back and his ability to sit up! I mean, for the first seven years of his life he lived in hospitals!

The beauty of my brother was his spirit for life. Although his speech was difficult to understand at first, we understood him. Although he required continual care with bathing, feeding, bedtime, bathroom, getting dressed, transportation, etc., it was just a part of having him in the family. It was not a hardship (easy for me to say!). It was what needed to be done for this amazing young man, who smiled through it all. His joy in life was contagious. His smile was big and genuine. He drew people to himself! He knew Jesus loved him and sang his favorite songs “Jesus loves me” and “Jesus wants me for a sunbeam”. My little brother successfully lived 14 years in a wheelchair only to die as the result of an accident. He was most definitely worthy of life.

How can we judge who gets to live or die? This should not be up to us, but to God alone. He is the one that allows any of us to be, and He alone should be the one to end our life. To think we have that “right” over our bodies (as women) is to put more value on ourselves that on another. That is selfish and prideful.

“In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.”
Matthew 18:14

Abortion is wrong at any time. As followers of the Lord Jesus, we cannot accept the death penalty for any unborn child. We are not God therefore should not act like God.

To use a deformity or a handicap such as Downs Syndrome or Spina Bifida, or any other issue, including the cost of caring for a baby born with any challenge, is blatantly immoral and the ugly side of fallen humanity.

All of us were born imperfect. We each have uniquenesses and characteristics that set us apart. That is what makes us special.

The Bible doesn’t speak directly to abortion since it was written long before doctors could diagnose the true health of a baby. But the topic of “life” is spoken of throughout Scripture.

“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my informed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there were none of them.”
Psalm 139:13-16

Thankfully, all life is created equal in God’s eyes.

Food for thought: Birth days are a day of celebration! Every year we recognize that person, for the rest of their life. (Some women prefer we forget their age though.) 🙂

Fun facts: Thanks to huge strides in medical and surgical interventions over the past 40 years, children who are born with spina bifida today lead active and productive lives. According to the Spina Bifida Association, approximately 90 percent of infants affected with the defect live well into adulthood.

Photo by: Kari Wiseman – The birthday of a boy