How would you explain abortion to a six year old child?
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March 31st was "Red Envelope" Day. We participated by preparing our red envelopes to send to President Obama. Xena knows the tragedy of abortion, but JLee did not...it is very difficult to explain to a 6 year old about legalized abortion, everyone who "sits on the fence" should try it sometime, I believe it would radically alter the viewpoint. I wanted to keep the explanation as mild as possible; any attempt to gloss could confuse JLee, and Xena would not let any dishonesty for delicacy sake to occur. As I was pondering my approach, the thought kept popping up, "If I can't explain to a 6 year old then what unbelievable excuse are we telling ourselves?" Abortion is what it is...to abort means to discontinue...in this case, it means the existence of the baby. I know I am "preaching to the choir", however the recent reports show the staggering numbers of abortions in my lifetime have totally flattened me...and these numbers are only for the United States! Could I have made a difference in all those years? Could I have sought the Lord more? Of course, I could have...there can be no other answer; the shame hits me with such a horrid force. But, I do not despair, for I have a Redeemer who forgives the tragedy of my Laodecia sin. Moreover, my renewed hope is this, as long as He tarries...I can be His sword, awake and able to will His will.
There are many things in this world that a 6 year old child need not know about; many things that are considered inappropriate or gruesome and for me abortion is one of them. I was not prepared to tell JLee the "reasons" given for abortion, I was simply going to tell her what it was and why we were sending the envelopes...but this seemed to be so cold. I toyed with the idea of NOT telling her, but I knew Xena would have not liked this idea. I knew there would not be a barrage of questions after my explanation; JLee is simply not like that. Knowing this, it made it worse for me; questions clear the air and set the feet on a straight path…
Here is what I told this little girl and her remarkable reply:
"Doodle, we are mailing these envelopes to President Obama. We are mailing them because he is signing into law that our tax dollars be used for women who do not want to carry their babies anymore. It is called abortion. Some people believe they have a right to keep their babies from growing inside of them and so they abort them. They believe they have good reasons..." I hesitated for a question, but none came...I continued, "Right now, there are laws that restrict abortions and keep our tax dollars from paying for this, President Obama wants to change this and make abortion possible for everyone at anytime, even in other countries. There are people mailing these envelopes from all over the country and we hope that President Obama will listen and understand how many people do not want him to promote abortion".
JLee was quiet for a long moment, as she pondered I watched a very sad realization come upon her face, very quietly she asked me, "Grammie, why would a Mommy want to kill her baby?"
My heart sank, I had been careful not to use the word kill, although this is what happens to the child; to deny it would be insane and “culturally accepted” explanations absurd given the astute clarity of her question. Truth was what she wanted, “JLee, I just don’t know...except for the fact that we are all sinners...can you see my little Doobug, why we so desperately need a Savior?” Her little lip trembled, and I hugged her, "The babies that have been aborted are safe in the arms of Jesus...no worries there...but the Mommies' need our prayers. They have to live with a very bad choice and they need to know about the saving Grace and Forgiveness of our Lord."
We prayed and I could tell she took a great comfort in knowing the babies were now safe with the Lord and their mothers given to Jesus.
I wish President Obama could have looked into the face of JLee as she asked that question...to feel the crush of its weight...
Talk later
L
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