Lament for Life

 

Pregnant.

She clutched her abdomen, reeling as a known reality collapsed under the forces of a thousand questions she never knew to exist. Fear, anxiety, wonder, awe, terror, curiosity; she staggered under the weight of possibilities and conversations rushing upon her, an ambush breaking loose.

Aware of her body like never before, she considered the occupant within her.

A baby?

A thing?

Never before had the choice of terminology thrown her into crisis. If declaring it a problem, she must seek resolution. But if a life... could she carry a child with tender love and fierce devotion to responsibility? What if she carried the infant for a few months, found herself irreversibly attached yet confronted with glaring reality of her own inability to parent?

No, this must be an "it"- an intangible nuisance.

Agonized, she shuddered in her soul. What if she was terribly wrong?

.............

Creator of the universe, we gather to lament for mothers crying alone, wondering in the anguish of fear. For precious children killed by the thousands in their absolute vulnerability. For their torn bodies cast aside as rubbish, image bearers considered unworthy of protection and value. For a society calloused to the voiceless cry to the smallest among us. For the injustice done against women which creates a fear so great they would believe their child not a human- their mother heart quenched by the enemy's screaming lies echoing through culture. For a generation of children who never received a name or embrace. For women grieving alone and ashamed after the abortion, unaware of the forgiveness You, Father, offer. For fathers who knew not how to protect their wife and unborn child, or neglected to do so. For those blinded by the enemy, believing life disposable. For the many times we as the church neglected to speak and defend life in compassion and courage.

Jesus, we turn our eyes to You who reverses the lie infecting the culture. Rather than defending Your life, You offered Your body to provide life for those unwanted and unable to offer a single benefit. You chose to begin salvation work as the unborn infant of a single mother.

You weep over the destruction of beloved children knit with holy intention by Your Almighty hands.

You hold the terrified mama in arms of mercy, pleading that she choose life- physical and eternal- in reliance upon You.

You invite the one who chose abortion to find complete renewal in Your love which resurrects what they enemy believed he crushed.

Now our bodies groan alongside all creation.

Yet in You is hope- one day death, mourning and fear will flee as Your presence of perfect life is seen and You gather Your children HOME.

May You find us mourning the evil, inviting mothers, fathers and children Home, defending the least of these, and serving in Holy Spirit guided, Kingdom Love.