When have you been a little scared to do something you knew was right?
That’s a good place to start when you’re trying to find a time in your life that you’ve shared your faith.
Think hard about the times when you’ve felt convicted to act.
Maybe you’ve shed light to an unknown wrong: that person who was going to leave your church because they felt ignored.
Maybe you’ve spoken up for those who have no voice: that kid who was getting bullied at school that you defended.
Maybe you’ve chosen to STOP doing something that you knew in your heart wasn’t right.
That’s where my little story starts.
It was 1989. There was a referendum on the ballot of the Florida Legislature regarding abortion. I honestly don’t remember what it was now. But I know I was pro-choice — seriously. Knowing me now that may seem shocking. Now, I am a very conservative, Roman Catholic Christian who values life from conception to natural death (the only way I can see a pro-life stance is across the board) Then, however I had bought the lie…
…the one of, “I’m me. You’re you. I can’t tell you what’s wrong. You can’t tell what’s wrong either.” I knew that I would have no trouble telling someone to refrain from murdering someone outside the womb. The problem was that the “someone” wasn’t me, or them. It was an unborn human being.
I was a Christian. I knew that God held every life sacred. But when you’re 18 years old and using your femininity and life in ways that aren’t congruent to His laws and ways anyhow, you get tad bit defensive. I didn’t want to be told what to do in other parts of my life. So it seemed rational that being “pro-choice” made sense.
Except, it wasn’t really about ME, was it? It was about human beings that I couldn’t see.
The protesters on the other side of the street stunned me. They weren’t violently screaming nearly as much or as loudly as the ones yelling, “Keep the government out of my uterus!” They were praying, of all the annoying things. Most likely for me. Most of them were saying statements like “life is important,” “God loves babies,” holding rosaries, wearing collars, habits and pushing strollers with actual babies in them.
Oh the nerve. However …
God pierced my heart that day.
Hard.
I loved Jesus. He loved me. He loved the unborn. Therefore, I should be loving the unborn as much. They weren’t choices.
I told my friends that were protesting with me that night that I wouldn’t be returning. I just couldn’t do it. They thought I had “sold out.”
Thank God.
When I tell my kids this story now, they simply can’t believe it. Me. On the pro-choice side of the street.
But that’s exactly what they need to hear from us. They need to hear about how God strengthened us with His Holy Spirit even when we didn’t even know it was Him.
If it’s a little scary to tell the story, that’s a good sign. Those rumbles in your tummy are there telling you and your kids that God is Great. All The Time. It’s up to us to share the Good News of what He’s done in our lives even when we were squirrely.
After all, He didn’t die on a cross for us to go with the flow. He died for our sins and to help us be bold.
Where have you made a scary decision that reflected your faith?
When have you felt “squirrely” but The Holy Spirit guided you through a difficult time?
How has God strengthened you when you felt challenged?
Linking up with Reasons to Skip the Housework, I Should Be Mopping the Floor, Mommy A to Z Blog,
4 Comments
Thank you for sharing. I never realized how passionately I felt about a lot of issues until my children were born. I then realized that I needed to start getting my opinions ready because the questions come hard and fast.
{Kathy} Getting your opinions ready is a great way of looking at it. If we stammer or hold back in some of the important issues, our kids will believe we aren’t as convicted as we truly are. And you’re right — they do come hard and fast! Thanks for visiting.
PS – from the Manic Mondays Blog Hop 😀
{Kathy} Welcome Andi! Thank you for visiting.