Fifty Years Ago – A Choice

Fifty Years Ago – A Choice                        



It was March 1970—fifty years ago.

A young engaged couple sat across the desk from a doctor and heard the words, “Yes, you are pregnant.”   
Neither remembered another word he said from that point on, but he had confirmed their fear. 

Few words were spoken on the long drive back. For the sake of anonymity, the doctor visit took place in a city a couple of hours drive from their own town. 


That evening the troubled couple followed through with plans to attend a college basketball game with friends, a married couple they had recently come to know. Knowing the dilemma at hand, the wife, Tonya (not her real name) tried to give comfort and assistance. 


“I know where you can get an abortion if that’s what you want to do,” she said. 


After all, the pregnant one had just spoken of the dread of having to tell her parents. She knew her mom and dad would be saddened by her behavior and disappointed in her. She also knew they would be embarrassed when they had to face friends and family members. And what would the people at church think? Both of her parents were Sunday School teachers.


In addition, she, herself, would need to face that same embarrassment and humiliation. And besides, having a baby now would interfere with college. She was on the down-hill slide of her second year. 


An abortion would eliminate all those uncomfortable and inconvenient scenarios.


But then she asked herself, “what exactly is an abortion?” Her mind was racing.


Tightening her clasped hands, she turned her face to her fiancé and said, “Would you want to kill our baby?” 


She stared into his face.  
   

“I want to do whatever you want to do,” was his reply. 


Her mind seemed like a racetrack with cars speeding in every direction. Then she saw the image of a tiny form growing in her belly. A tear slid down her cheek—and then another one. 


“We’re not going to kill our baby,” she announced. 

L to R: Guy, Connie, Neil, Shannon - 1995

A few months later, our son, Shannon, was born and I became a mother. He was perfect and wonderful. 

Less than two years later his little brother, Neil, was born. He too was perfect and wonderful and has given us four terrific grandchildren. 

The thought that an abortion might have taken place is nightmarish. There would have been no Shannon and possibly no Neil either, because having an abortion can cause damage that leaves a woman unable to ever have children. 



                  
                                                                                                

Our eight grandchildren - Photo by Allison Laster

That baby that we decided not to kill has grown into a wonderful God-fearing man. Throughout his life he has brought great joy to many people, especially his parents. 

He was such a fun little boy and a high achiever and leader in high school. With great pride we watched him graduate from the US Naval Academy. He then served our country for twenty years as an aviator in the Navy and Air Force. 

He has given us four fantastic grandchildren who are now teenagers. After retiring from the military, he and his wife have settled in our hometown to finish raising their children. 

Our eight grandchildren - Photo by Allison Laster - 2009

He is currently flourishing as a teacher of physics and algebra at his high school alma mater. He loves his students and though he’s tough they love him back because they know he cares. As a swim coach he encourages and enriches the lives of many youth. 

Thank God we did not kill our baby. Through the years we and many others have benefited immeasurably from our decision—a decision on that March night in 1970, bore life or death consequences. We chose life. 


I know some women who did not choose life for their babies and I know that God has stored up all their tears in a bottle (Psalm 56:8) and He does not love them any less because of their actions. For all of us, He offers total forgiveness for all our sins if we will believe in and receive Jesus. When we receive Christ, He removes our sins as far as the east is from the west. Our sins are gone—they exist no longer in God’s eyes. 


I've committed many sins in my life and I’m beyond grateful for God’s amazing grace, unfailing love, and forever forgiveness. Thank you, Jesus!


Pleases pray with me. Holy God, You know everything about me, including every sin I’ve ever committed. Thank you for loving me in spite of it all, and for sending Your Son, Jesus, to take the punishment I deserved. Please help me, Oh God, to forgive myself. In Jesus name I pray—Amen. 


Your comments are welcome.

©Copyright 2020 Connie Wohlford

“He Went Out Not Knowing”             

These 5 words, “He went out not knowing...,” are found in the Bible. Do you know who said them and of whom they were said?

Speaking of Abraham, the writer of the Book of Hebrews said, “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. ⁹ By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; (Heb. 11:8-9 KJV).”

Tomorrow we begin a new year. Like Abraham, we go out not knowing what lies ahead. We don’t know what awaits around the bend. It might hold abundant joys and really cool adventures−or perhaps even great sorrows and trials.  

When God called Abraham, (named Abram at the time) he obeyed, without hesitation. When he went out not knowing, he was taking a huge step of faith. God had called him to leave his home and kin. He didn’t have a reference point, or much of a family history with God. He was living in Haran, a pagan place. He couldn’t sing a song like Faith of Our Fathers to build his faith or boost his confidence. He took his wife, servants, Lot, his newhew, and their livestock and went out totally not knowing anything except that God had told him to do so.

So here we are, entering into a new year and we go out, not knowing what will befall us in 2016. We anticipate, hoping and expecting good things. Some among us are expecting a baby, planning a wedding, going to graduate, building a new house, and on and on.

Those of us who are in Christ, do NOT need to worry as we step into the new year. God told us very clearly in Luke 12:22 not to worry about anything. In other words, we are not to worry about things that concern us as we go out, not knowing what lies ahead. We don’t need to worry because God knows!

There are two 2-word sentences that give me great comfort as I face the unknown. The first is “I AM,” which God said about Himself to Moses through the burning bush. He was letting Moses know that Jehovah God was anything and everything Moses and the children of Israel would need for any trial or situation they’d faced.

My other 2-word sentence is, “God knows.”  When I encounter a trial, especially when I see no good ending, I remind myself, “God knows.” I know it is truth; He is good; He loves me with unfailing love; and He knows what’s best for me in any situation.

Granted, when January 1^st rolls around each year, we don’t know what lies ahead of us, or for any of our loved ones. Fear of the unknown can have a profound effect on an individual.

What does fear do to us? Fear keeps us focused on the past & constantly worried about the future. It creates desperation and indecision that paralyzes our logic, thinking, and actions. Fear causes us to be hesitant in exploring new concepts and embracing new possibilities. We can't live freely when we live in fear of the unknown.

Jesus said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on (Luke 12:22).”

Let’s consider things that we DO know, as we embark on a New Year−for that matter, as we embark on any new day:

1.  Jesus said, “Don’t worry about anything.”  Let’s take Him at His word. “For I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I’ve committed unto Him against that day (2 Timothy 1:12).”

2.  Always remember, God loves us with unfailing love.

3.  God knows our end before our beginning. He said so! −Isaiah 46:10

4.  God created each of us, and knows each of us better than we know ourselves. He knows what’s best for us. Therefore, we can rest assured that He has our best interest in mind in all matters.

5.  Yes, we might miss God and mess up along the way but He knows our heart and can always get us straightened out when we cooperate with Him.

6.  God gives us principles and precepts to guide us and we can trust His Word. Of course we must read and study His Word in order to know these things.

7.  We have His presence at all times. When we’re in His family, His Holy Spirit dwells in us. He said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you (Heb. 13:5).”

As we go out in complete surrender to our Creator, we shouldn’t be surprised at marvelous things He will do in us and through us.

“Be an Abraham. Leave everything, and if you do this in faith, verily ye shall not lack your reward. He is able, and he has promised to give you in this life ten times more than you lose for him, and in the world to come life everlasting.”

“Let us … put the most implicit trust in our wonder-working God; when we recollect what he has already done for us.”

“I can only hold up my hands and exclaim, ‘What hath God wrought!’ And shall we doubt for the future? No; mariner, hoist the sail; loose the rudder bands; drag up the anchor; once again to sea we go, with the flag of faith at the masthead, with Jehovah at the helm, to a sure port the vessel shall be guided, though the storm may howl, and hell beneath shall be stirred; for God is with us, and the God of Abraham is our refuge. God give to every one of you the firmest trust in his providence, that you may go forth not knowing whither you go.”
“As for you that believe not in God, may you be led to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as in your Redeemer, and afterwards to trust your God, and leave all your concerns in his hands.” -Charles Spurgeon-  http://www.spurgeon.org/sermons/0261.htm 

©Connie Wohlford 2015