I Was a Baby

Life, from beginning to ending, is held sacred by the God who gives it. God­fearing people must view the gift of life as hallowed. The Psalmist declared that "[T]hou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made" (Psa. 139:13­14).

The prophet Jeremiah reveals, "The word of the Lord came unto me, saying, 'Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations"' (Jer. 1:5).

When Mary, chosen to be mother of our Lord, made her visit to Elisabeth, mother of John the Baptist, inspiration tells us that Elisabeth's babe "leaped in her womb" (Luke 1:41). A non­living fetus could not have accomplished such a fete. Pro­choice advocates have yet to explain how or when a non­living entity suddenly becomes a living fetus which develops a baby. Recall that they insist that life does not begin at conception but at some mystical, unknown time during the nine month period. If no life is there at the beginning, why the need for abortion? If it is there at some later point, snuffing it out clearly constitutes murder. The truth of the matter is that life has to be there from the beginning else no baby arrives at the end.

In recent years I have come to know a fine, Christian young couple who lost a much­wanted baby due to complications with the mother's health. But let us permit the baby to "speak" for himself.

My name is Thomas L. Smith. I lived in my mother's womb to the young age of about 15 weeks. My parents were excited about my expected arrival. They talked about me a lot and made plans for my coming to live with them. They were not expecting a fetus-they were expecting a baby! I was a baby boy! I had tiny hands and fingers and tiny feet. You can see my tiny footprints on my death certificate. My grandparents say I was perfectly formed, just too tiny to live outside my mother's womb. November 6 was a sad day for all of us.

I'm glad I was wanted. I do not understand why adults do not take the steps necessary to prevent unwanted pregnancy rather than subjecting innocent babies to the torture of abortion. And it is torture! You see, it is not the woman's body that the choice of abortion destroys. It is the baby's body which must suffer, and we are given no choice.

Yes, I was a baby boy. Please look at my tiny footprints. I was as human as any adult. And in the hereafter, I will be among the residents of heaven.

In Memory of Thomas L. Smith