It is impossible to spend any length of time with a child and not find yourself spellbound. You may be amazed at their intelligence and curiosity, perhaps humbled by their honest affection, or just swept away in watching them grow. I know this because I am now fortunate enough to experience these things on a daily basis with my daughters.
Many years ago I gave up an opportunity to experience these things because a previous partner and I opted to terminate a pregnancy we were faced with as very young people. We were afraid of the social stigma, the reaction of our families, and the seemingly overwhelming time and economic obligation that having a baby would entail. What we did not consider was what we would be giving up. We did not consider the full implication of ending a life before it had a chance to flourish. We did not consider the lost joy of watching him or her grow and be a part of this world. We rationalized our decision based solely on self centered considerations and consoled ourselves with the “fact” that since the option to abort the pregnancy was easily available, and many people were doing it, then perhaps it was no big deal.
We were wrong. We didn’t admit it at the time, I didn’t fully realize it till many years later, long after that relationship had passed and others had replaced it. I don’t think that I fully understood the significance until I did have children. It is impossible to watch my girls as they grow and not wonder about the son or daughter that I gave up back then. It is impossible not to grieve at the loss of a child I never got to know. I want to make others aware of this price, and encourage them to think not only about their current situation, but about what they will have to deal with in the future, before they decide to abort a pregnancy. That is why I am silent no more.
