June 01, 2022

A Hill that's Heavy on My Heart by Wendy L. Macdonald



 Sandi Somers gave us the following as our prompt for June:

Most of us have grappled with ethical dilemmas as a writer and/or in other life circumstances. Tell us of a time you grappled with an ethical dilemma. How did you approach this dilemma? And what was your answer? How did God show you what to do? How did you honour your responsibility? To God? To your reader? To yourself? 

Note: This topic was prompted by Pam Mytroen in her 2021 blog post: Canyons and Cornerstones

~

First, I highly recommend Pam’s post. It inspires us to trust God will guide us in writing about topics we’re not comfortable with.

As a blogger, I've avoided some controversial topics like they’re a horrible hill I’m not willing to die on. So far, I haven’t been asked or motivated to write on my least favorite topics. But I have written about abortion several times. 

It’s a hill I’m willing to lose followers over. It’s a hill that’s heavy on my heart because each time I see a tiny and vulnerable life in nature, I’m reminded of the thousands of lives that are snuffed out each day in hospitals and abortion clinics. It’s not that I don’t have any empathy for the pro-choice view, but I can’t ignore the call to pray and protect the defenseless. 

I’ve lived—and still live—up close and personal with the consequences of an unplanned pregnancy. Choosing life for an unborn child has the potential to turn the lives of all involved upside down and sideways in ways they never imagined.

Sometimes saying yes to life is the end of the life we once lived.

Christians are to die to themselves and live for Christ. What good is our faith if we aren’t willing to be faithful towards the unborn? 

The deep rewards of supporting my son who said yes to life have far outweighed the sacrifice of my previously predictable life. When he shows up unexpectedly in our home because he needs a hand in keeping himself and his son plugged into his family support system, I drop what I’m doing and share my world with them. Love doesn’t avoid the inconveniences of others. It inconveniences itself for the sake of others.

Nothing has been as rewarding as trusting God will provide the energy, time, and resources I need to be there in tangible ways for my unplanned but dearly loved grandson.

Abortion negates the need of God and robs families of the joy of living in His extravagant grace.

Thankfully God is a forgiving God. He longs to forgive those who have chosen death over life. He knows and sees the pressures many pregnant women experience from those around them. This is precisely why crisis pregnancy care centres are a powerful, important, and compassionate part of the pro-life movement. They come alongside pregnant women and provide free resources and counselling regardless of which choice the women made.

I’m glad my son chose life. It hasn’t been easy. It’s still not easy. But I see fruit maturing from his choice to do what his heart believed was best. I admire how much my son desires to continue doing what’s best even though it’s costing him dearly in so many ways. Love doesn’t penny-pinch. It bears the pinch to the wallet and rises to spend itself for the sake of the beloved. 

That’s what Jesus did. And that’s what we’re called to do. In our lives and through our pens.

I’m nosy-to-know if you’ve had to put feet to your pro-life belief?  

Blessings of Abundant Life in Jesus ~ Wendy Mac

P.S. I wrote the first draft of this blog post before a recent court ruling happened in the USA regarding their abortion laws. For several years I’ve been praying for the Pro-life movement to grow in a good and godly way. Love opens hearts to respect all lives. Let’s pray that changes are made at a heart level on our planet regarding the unborn. And let’s help others when God calls us to do so.

Wendy L. Macdonald is an inspirational blogger and podcaster who loves to photograph nature on Vancouver Island. Her byline is: “My faith is not shallow because I’ve been rescued from the deep.”  Please consider signing up for her monthly newsletter so you’ll be the first to hear when her Christian living book is ready for you to download a free sample chapter.        


18 comments:

  1. This is such a deep -- and as you said, potentially hot button topic. I can sense the passion with which you write and I appreciate the care you took with your words. May God bless you and yours, including your dear grandson!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, dear Tracy. "Care" is a precious commodity. Without it words are clanging cymbals. The world needs to hear more caring words and feel more caring touches. May we be the hands of our Caring Christ to a hurting world.

      Delete
    2. Like Tracy, I so appreciate the care you've taken with your words on this 'hot button' topic. I feel your heart and your care. I also love your last sentence in your reply to Tracy: "May we be the hands of our Caring Christ to a hurting world." Amen. Blessings, Wendy!

      Delete
    3. Thank you, dear Brenda. I'm glad the Lord empowers the willing to do His will. The right and loving way isn't the easy road, but it's the most rewarding.

      Delete
  2. Anonymous4:27 pm GMT-7

    “Choosing life for an unborn child has the potential to turn the lives of all involved upside down and sideways in ways they never imagined.
    Sometimes saying yes to life is the end of the life we once lived.” I appreciate your honest look at this topic, and your willingness to take a stand for life, and your willingness to make the sacrifices of caring for a child. 👍❤️

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you. Nothing we're asked to sacrifice for Him is lost. God is such a good and generous Father.

      Delete
  3. Anonymous5:49 pm GMT-7

    What an inspiring post! My sister was one who could have been aborted had the law legalizing infanticide existed in 1945. Jentien turned out to be a wonderful person and a sister in Christ. And as for hot button topics, listen to the song "Belly Button Window" by Jimi Hendrix. He wrote from a baby's point of view inside his mother's womb.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you. I'm going over to YouTube shortly to find that song. You've piqued my curiosity. :)

      Delete
  4. Each life is so precious in Jesus' eyes. You've written so honestly about this issue, and how the consequences of choosing life have affected you personally. Love doesn't penny-pinch - well said!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, dear Lorrie. I'm amazed how much God multiplied my energy and time to complete deadlines during the days my help was most needed. He doesn't ask us to do more than He'll equip us to.

      Delete
  5. What a wonderful story of how your family was blessed as your son decided against an abortion! As you continue to take a stand on a controversial (and unpopular) issue these days, I pray God will honour you as you write, "It’s a hill I’m willing to lose followers over."

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, dear Sandi. It's been a hope-filled journey that's caused me to pray to and praise God often.

      Delete
  6. Thanks, Wendy, for your candid peek into your family life. Many hard choices come with lasting and unforeseen consequences but it is worth it in the end, as you have so eloquently shown. ‘How blessed you are to have the Lord to walk through it with you,’ comes to mind. Thanks again.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, dear Sharon. I'm grateful for our walk-with-us God. He's so good.

      Delete
  7. Hi Wendy! Thank you for writing on this, "hill," you are, "...willing to lose followers over." I agree with you all the way. I cling to strong views on murderous acts such as abortion and euthanasia, inflicted on our country under the guise of "rights" and "my choice." As I read this post I also see why it is a personal matter for you. Blessings on your son and grandson as they live and enjoy life together. Blessings to you as well, as a shining light amidst increasing darkness. Lord have mercy!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Alan. The euthanasia door troubles me too because I'm concerned people may be pressured into going through it. It's another slippery slope to watch out for.
      Blessings.

      Delete
  8. Hi Wendy. I just read your post today. I too am willing to lose followers on that particular hill. Almost seven years ago we had the most precious three year old twins join our family when our son met their beautiful mom. I became an instant grandma as we didn't as yet have any other grandchildren (we now have five). It was an incredibly stretching experience but one I would never change. God has grown me so much through the experience and we have been so blessed by them and their mom. So glad she chose life and that they God chose us as their family.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, dear Gloria, for sharing this lovely story with me. What a double blessing to have twin granddaughters and a daughter-in-law. Lovely.

      Delete

Thank you for taking the time to join in the conversation. Our writers appreciate receiving your feedback on posts you have found helpful or meaningful in some way.