Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Heart Issues, Hard Decisions
Hi guys
Last monday, Mark, Melvyn, Soo and I went for this forum titled "Heart Issues, Hard Decisions". Basically, it was a discussion about ethical issues in pregnancy, ie the topic of abortion in light of the recent excommunication incident. Plenty of medical and ethical issues were covered but the main thing that struck me was a sharing by this married couple, John and Joan and their story is what I will attempt to share with you :)
John and Joan was expecting their first child, a boy and during one of the routine medical checkups, they found out that their child had several deformities - holes in heart and intestines growing outside the body. They were distraught but they were insistent on not aborting the child. Time passed and they went for some genetic chromosome testing and found out that the baby had Edward's Syndrome, meaning he wouldn't live past the first month aft his birth. Eventually, the baby didn't survive and died in Joan's womb and they had to induce labour so as to deliever the dead baby. They had a normal second baby boy. However, they faced a similar situation with their third child, who also passed away. Now, they have a fourth child. After all they had been through, they still had so much faith in God and were really blessed with God's graces. They shared about how their first baby had accomplished his mission, which was to teach them more about love...
I simplified the story a little, giving only the main details of their story but what really touched me during their sharing was their sheer faith and trust in God and how strong they, as a couple, are to be able to go through so much emotional, physical and spiritual difficulty. Going into this talk, I've had problems with abortion. I know that the act is wrong, but I also knew that if placed in a situation of unwanted pregnancy or having a baby with down syndrome, I would selfishly consider the option of abortion. However, when I was listening to their sharing, I was really overwhelmed with so much emotions and I couldnt stop myself from breaking down. I can't really explain where the tears were coming from or why I was so overwhelmed.. Perhaps because the issue was something I was struggling with or I could feel the emotional difficulty the couple must have been through. All I know is that the Spirit was leading me somewhere, thus explaining the stirrings in my heart and soul.
After the talk, I can safely say that I am surer about not considering an abortion than I was before the talk. The couple's story was such a real testimony of God's strength, providence and will and I think their story has increased my belief that if I am placed in a similar situation, that God will be greater than any human emotion that I feel and that He will provide :) They're really such an inspiration.
Sorry if my thoughts arent really coherent or expressed right, I'm having difficulty translating my feelings and thoughts into words.. a bit rusty from the absence of school, haha. Okay, that's it! Praise God for the sharing of John and Joan :)
Love, Jess
Heart Issues, Hard Decisions
Hi guys
Last monday, Mark, Melvyn, Soo and I went for this forum titled "Heart Issues, Hard Decisions". Basically, it was a discussion about ethical issues in pregnancy, ie the topic of abortion in light of the recent excommunication incident. Plenty of medical and ethical issues were covered but the main thing that struck me was a sharing by this married couple, John and Joan and their story is what I will attempt to share with you :)
John and Joan was expecting their first child, a boy and during one of the routine medical checkups, they found out that their child had several deformities - holes in heart and intestines growing outside the body. They were distraught but they were insistent on not aborting the child. Time passed and they went for some genetic chromosome testing and found out that the baby had Edward's Syndrome, meaning he wouldn't live past the first month aft his birth. Eventually, the baby didn't survive and died in Joan's womb and they had to induce labour so as to deliever the dead baby. They had a normal second baby boy. However, they faced a similar situation with their third child, who also passed away. Now, they have a fourth child. After all they had been through, they still had so much faith in God and were really blessed with God's graces. They shared about how their first baby had accomplished his mission, which was to teach them more about love...
I simplified the story a little, giving only the main details of their story but what really touched me during their sharing was their sheer faith and trust in God and how strong they, as a couple, are to be able to go through so much emotional, physical and spiritual difficulty. Going into this talk, I've had problems with abortion. I know that the act is wrong, but I also knew that if placed in a situation of unwanted pregnancy or having a baby with down syndrome, I would selfishly consider the option of abortion. However, when I was listening to their sharing, I was really overwhelmed with so much emotions and I couldnt stop myself from breaking down. I can't really explain where the tears were coming from or why I was so overwhelmed.. Perhaps because the issue was something I was struggling with or I could feel the emotional difficulty the couple must have been through. All I know is that the Spirit was leading me somewhere, thus explaining the stirrings in my heart and soul.
After the talk, I can safely say that I am surer about not considering an abortion than I was before the talk. The couple's story was such a real testimony of God's strength, providence and will and I think their story has increased my belief that if I am placed in a similar situation, that God will be greater than any human emotion that I feel and that He will provide :) They're really such an inspiration.
Sorry if my thoughts arent really coherent or expressed right, I'm having difficulty translating my feelings and thoughts into words.. a bit rusty from the absence of school, haha. Okay, that's it! Praise God for the sharing of John and Joan :)
Love, Jess
1 Comments:
see ya
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