Thursday, January 21, 2021

The Blessings in my Life from Conception to Natural Death

 Respecting life from conception to natural death begins with our own families. Being pro-life means that you understand that planned or unplanned, a baby is a baby. I was adopted when I was three days old, really at birth, but my parents couldn't come and take me home until I was three days old. I grew up knowing that I was adopted and my parents explained how much I was loved and I have always been very thankful for my life. I'm a joyful, glass is half-full type of gal! I love to laugh and sing and am definitely a people person! Now, getting back to the reason for this story. When my husband and I got married I was expecting our first child. Abortion had been legal for ten years. Having an abortion never even entered my mind. I was and am very blessed to have a wonderful husband. We immediately picked a date and planned a small wedding. Fast forward to a couple of decades later. Our adult children are very supportive of my pro-life work. In 2006 we were blessed with three precious grandchildren, two of them were unplanned. That summer all three of our children and grandchildren were at our home. I took a picture of the three grandbabies together. Years later, after I became involved in the pro-life mission I thought about that picture and so many more pictures with all ten of our grandchildren. They are all such gifts! We are so blessed! We are thankful for each and every one of our ten grandchildren. One time someone asked me why I fought so hard, why I cared so much. I started thinking about all the statistics I know and then I said, "Let me tell you a story." This woman knows my children and my grandchildren. After I finished my story I asked her which two of my grandchildren shouldn't be here? Could she pick out the ones that weren't planned? She began to cry and squeezed my hand as tears streamed down my cheeks also. I've learned through the years that sometimes you have to tell your own life story for people to understand why you do what you do. I've actually had people who don't know me say, "You're pro-life until it happens to you or to your kids!" And my reply has always been, "Do you have a minute? Let me tell you a story."

Respecting life until natural death - I've spoken to some RCIA classes about my pro-life work. I shared the following story two years ago. Blog Post January 19, 2019

2 Corinthians 5:7
We walk by faith, not by sight.

On Thursday, January 10th, I was blessed to share my pro-life message with the
RCIA Class at Sacred Heart. The core part of my message was that we need to
respect life from conception through natural death. I get pretty animated when I speak.
I walk back and forth and my hands are this way and that way - sometimes I make
people laugh (especially when I share my, "You might be Catholic if" stories) and
sometimes the truth of what I say will bring tears to your eyes (and mine too). I talk
about my adoption story and how thankful I am for my life. I share pictures of my
children and grandchildren because I want people to understand that adoption saves
generations. The grim reality on the other hand is that abortion ends generations.
I shared a story about my father this time - it's the first time I've spoken about it
publicly. The story is about respecting life until natural death.
I have to tell you this - when I sat down today I really wasn't sure what I was going to
write about and I'm constantly amazed at the words, the memories that God places
on my heart. So...let me tell you a story:
If you've read the stories from my blog you know that my mother died when I was twelve.
My dad was the sweetest man and he took such good care of my mom, she had cancer
and was sick for a long time. When I moved away from home, got married and was
blessed with a family of my own, my dad would come and visit.
He would go and visit my brother and his family and then come and stay with us.
I have so many memories of him being with us. He would sit at the bar in the kitchen
and chop onions and peel potatoes for me when I was cooking. He liked to watch TV and
in the fall he would shell pecans for me as he watched the football games. He would run
errands with me and we had the best visits - always talking! My dad developed
Alzheimer's in his later years. He had stopped calling me by name about three years
before he died. He recognized me but whether he realized I was his daughter or not I
don't know. I cherished our visits. He lived in a nursing home for the last year and a half
of his life. I would go and see him and put an old movie on - we loved watching
John Wayne Westerns and old war movies. Our favorite John Wayne movie was,
"McClintock." Jim would always buy candy bars before he would stop in to see dad.
He loved seeing his great grandchildren, his eyes would light up.
My brother and his wife would come and visit and he was always so happy to see
everyone. I don't know who dad remembered or if he remembered that we were his
children or not. The point I stressed was that whether my dad remembered who I was or not,
I knew who he was - he was my sweet dad and I will always be thankful for the time I spent with him.

Respect Life from Conception to Natural Death

Blessings to you and yours,
Bye for now, Sharla

Wednesday, January 13, 2021

My Journey as a Pro-Life Advocate

 
Yesterday something happened that reminded me of why and when I became a pro-life advocate. It certainly wasn't planned. I love being a wife, mother, and grandmother. I've always been busy taking care of my family and spending time with them. I love being married, it is my vocation and I take it seriously.  Being involved with pro-life activities wasn't something I thought that much about. We raised our children to be pro-life and to believe in the sanctity of all human life. We discussed pro-life issues but weren't involved in pro-life activities.  Back in 2011 I was invited to pray with a group from our parish in front of Planned Parenthood. This was during the fall 2011, 40 Days for Life campaign. I faithfully showed up to pray during the hour I had chosen. The prayerful people, the beautiful "rosary for life" prayers and meditations quickly grabbed my heart. I signed up again for the spring 2012 campaign and started staying longer than my hour and even praying at other hours when they needed someone. I was amazed at the women and sometimes men who would come over and share their story with us. I still remember the pain in the voices of the women who had chosen abortion. Some had carried this grief for decades. I would cry with these women, I would hug them and feel so helpless. I realized that the pro-life mission wasn't just to save the precious unborn babies but their mothers too!  I would share with my family these heartfelt moments and how important praying out there was. By the fall 2012 campaign, my family had signed up and were praying also. I was not a writer, I had a flip phone, was not on social media, and did not ever plan on being on social media. I didn't text unless it was a one word response. That all changed in the summer of 2013. Something happened and I realized  that it was time to get off the sidelines and jump right in the middle of the pro-life movement. The final straw had broken and I found my voice. I found the words and the courage to speak up and to speak out. Sometimes we're just not sure where to start or what to do. I found my voice and stepped out of my comfort zone on July 1, 2013. There was an article in the newspaper about the filibuster by Wendy Davis, she wanted abortion to not only be legal up to twenty weeks in Texas but up to twenty four weeks. I am thankful that did not pass but in the newspaper that Monday morning, on the front page it talked about all the people from all over the world calling to congratulate her. I was appalled and my letter writing to the newspaper began. That wasn't enough so I started my blog, and then I got on Facebook, and if you read my blog - you know the rest of the story! I've been writing for over seven and half years now. But my story is still going - it is not over - I will continue to speak up, write stories, and use the gift that I didn't even know I had until one day, God gave me the words and this burning desire in my heart to do more. I wrote that one letter to the paper and people responded and told me I should write more. I remember thinking, "It doesn't work like that - I was able to write that letter because I was so upset." But then the words kept coming. I found out I had so much I wanted to say so I started my blog. My home office quickly filled up with all types of information on abortion, adoption, pregnancy help centers, etc. I wanted to reach out to people. I wanted to share information. There are times when I wonder if it makes any difference at all. But I know that I have to speak up - I feel like God is always guiding me, giving me a little nudge. 
 Abortion has been legalized up to birth (for any reason) in New York and other states have quickly joined in. The infamous Roe v Wade anniversary will be on January 22nd. Forty-eight years of legalized abortion in the United States. The straws should be breaking right and left, that camel's back is beyond broken! When someone asks me how to speak up and be a voice for the unborn, how do you get started? I tell them to pray, and to ask the Holy Spirit to give them the words, the guidance they need, whether it is for a conversation with someone or more. Submit letters or articles to your local newspaper, write letters to your city, state, and government leaders. Wear a pro-life t-shirt. I have lots of pro-life t-shirts, I wear them often. Share pro-life posts on social media/Facebook. Stop worrying about hurting someone's feelings. But when you do speak up, know what you are talking about - be diplomatic, but mean what you say. If someone asks you a question that you don't know, it is okay to say, "I don't know the answer to that." But then say, I will find out and get back with you. And then, make sure you do find out the answer and get back with them. My blog, all of my posts and stories are another way of speaking up for the most innocent among us. 
Being a pro-life advocate isn't easy. The following post/poem is one I wrote years ago. I still remember how I felt that day - I sat down and prayed and the words just came.

It Matters to God! It Matters to Him!

My heart is so full, I have so much to say,
it is gorgeous outside, the start of a beautiful new day.
This morning I woke with a pain in my heart,
knowing my mission, just not sure where to start!

God has opened my eyes and has touched my heart.
To save the unborn I must do my part.

What should I do, what do I say?
I ask the Lord as I pray.
He fills my head with words to say,
so I write and I write each and every day.

I cry out to Him to show me the way,
How do I make a difference today?
I just don't understand why it's so hard to see,
the horrible death that abortion brings.
What must I do, What must I say?
So I write and I write each and every day.

I send letters to the paper, I write posts for my blog.
I put pictures on face book, and pray for new laws.
I weep for the babies, their innocent lives lost.
What am I missing, am I not doing enough?
Please God help me, please show me the way.
How can I make a difference today?

Then my heart begins to ache,
I know I must speak up!
I know God is telling me, don't you dare give up!
Keep going, keep writing, don't you see?
What you do makes a difference, you are listening to Me!

It matters to God! It matters to Him!
I will write and I will post and I will write again.
I won't give up, I will be their voice!
I will fight for the unborn, because they are babies, not a choice!

                       Precious little babies in your mother's womb,
                 you are not a choice. You are a blessing, a gift from God.
                 I will speak up for you, and I will fight for your life. I will
                     write letters and posts and pray. I will speak up for
                                     you each and every day!