A Massachusetts woman (according to today’s Boston Globe) has sued a doctor and Planned Parenthood for malpractice regarding her abortion. The problem—the abortion didn’t work, and now she is upset that she has to raise the child. She is suing them demanding repayment for damages and child support, since she is now stuck raising an “unwanted child.”
Initially when I read this article, I was angry at the woman for dragging her disdain for her child out this long (the abortion procedure was performed two years ago). Then I was angry at a justice system that would allow such a thing to even make it past the initial complaint. But the thing that struck me most was the fact that this is about more than a botched abortion that resulted in an unwanted baby. This is about a little girl who will one day grow up into a woman, and will know that her mother fought against her not only when she was in the womb but two years after she entered this world. Not only will she grow up knowing that her mother tried to have her killed once, but she will grow up (with the court and news media documentation to prove it) knowing that her mother didn’t even want her after she saw her face for the first time.
We live in a strange world where mothers can so flippantly disregard their children as mere lifestyle choices that can be terminated at will. But even stranger, that mothers can now sue Planned Parenthood for child support when they fail to do what they promise—kill their babies. We have so separated the maternal instinct from child birth. Gone are the days where mothers feel a deep connection with their unborn children. Post-feminist America has distorted our understanding of what it means to be a mother. I pray for this little two year old, that one day she will be brought to saving faith in Christ and know that we serve a sovereign heavenly Father who did not allow her mother’s selfish lifestyle choice to bring about an end to her little life.
is it wrong to be angry? i know that sin is suppose to disgust us, but these type of stories make me so upset, for one reason because they arent just "stories", they are peoples lives. i just get so angry, people are so selfish and greedy! and the fact that others can read about these situations and not want our government to change laws to make these things illegal makes me wonder what is going through their minds. i dont know, it just makes me really sad, especially for that little girl who's mother will most likely never love her the way she needs.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comments Katie. It is not wrong to be angry, it is wrong to sin in our anger (Psalm 4:4). But the Bible also tells us to be slow to anger (Proverbs 14:29, James 1:19). What should guide us in our understanding of anger is the Bible. We should hate what God hates and be angry at the things that he gets angry at.
ReplyDeleteOften times Christians use the righteous anger argument as a license to lash out at everyone who makes us mad and challenges our "rights". That is not correct thinking.
So, in short, I think it is okay to be angry about this incident. Why? Because it is evil on multiple levels. A woman didn't want her baby because she couldn't afford to raise her, and now she still is mad that she couldn't get rid of her. But I think most importantly our anger at this situation should be coupled with sorrow and tears because this woman is blinded by the god of this age and can't see the beauty and joy of motherhood.
Does that make sense?
I liked your comment "especially for that little girl who's motehr will most likely never love her the way she needs."
Well said friend! Thank you for thinking further on these things.
"This is about a little girl who will one day grow up into a woman, and will know that her mother fought against her not only when she was in the womb but two years after she entered this world."
ReplyDeleteThere are at least two ways to think about this. Yours is the first one, and is likely the correct one. Another is simple exploitation: she found a way to make some money or get some free toys or something. In an America where one can sue for too-hot coffee or try to get a quick buck by putting someone's finger in a bowl of chili.
I can't decide which one I would prefer to be correct. Either way, that girl is going to have some amazing amount of baggage in her life.
If she doesn't want the girl, maybe she'd have enough heart to find someone who does.