Taking an Active Stand on the Sanctity of Life by junior Zoe Fischer

20168005 Fischer

“It is my job to speak for the children whose value is not being considered,
because everyone deserves the chance to be alive and be loved.”

After my mother’s first doctor visit while she was pregnant with me, she got a call from a nurse concerning test results. The nurse left a message explaining that test results showed a complication in the pregnancy, and that the baby would be born with spina bifida, which is a developmental congenital disorder that leads to some vertebrae overlying the spinal cord not being fully formed and remaining unfused and open.

The nurse urged my mother to return to the doctor’s office as soon as possible to retest, as the window to have an abortion was small. Shaken and unable to reach the doctor’s office, my mother spent a long weekend thinking of raising a baby with a birth defect and waiting for the doctor to call.

Later, my mother found out that the tests had been wrong; though I was born a few weeks prematurely, I was not to be born with spina bifida. Yet, the brief health scare and blunt words of the nurse have not left my mother’s mind. The message on the machine concerned a quick retest so an abortion could be planned. Those words never haunted my mother though, until she reflected on the message after finding that I would be born healthy. The nurse mentioned abortion as a standard part of her job, something accepted as normal. It was not an option for my mother as she had already acknowledged that she was having a baby, healthy or not. I am here today because my mother believed I should have a chance to live.

Now I am 17 years old, have two jobs, plenty of friends, and, above all, opportunity. I am receiving the best education available and have high hopes for the future due to the efforts of my parents and their push for me to do my best. I have been on many vacations, seen many beautiful things, and made wonderful memories with friends and family. I love my family and my life, and it breaks my heart to know that some in my country do not get to experience the love that I feel because of Roe vs. Wade and the Culture of Death that often prevails here.

I am an advocate for the pro-life movement because I believe in life and feel a personal connection to the cause. While I do not consider myself to be a confrontational person, I am passionate about my beliefs and will always stand up for what I think is right. I believe I have the ability to show respect while making my voice heard, which is why this is the third consecutive year that I have attended the recent March for Life in Washington, D.C.

It is my faith in humanity that allows me to believe that good conquers in the end, and abortion will be put to an end. Similarly, my passion for the pro-life movement is strong because I am reminded of the value of life every day. Having four younger sisters and conversing with many happy customers at my job provides me with the happiness and satisfaction that can only come from an appreciation of life.

That appreciation for life is even more apparent because last year my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. Although it saddens me to see her sick, I am reminded of all the amazing things she has given me and how much I truly value her in my life. Her grace and giving heart represent the most beautiful way of life, and, even as she faces her biggest challenge, she continues to show me the value of living in a loving atmosphere. The face of opportunity and right to life is so beautiful that I hope that all of God’s children can experience it the way I do.

After my most recent trip to Washington, D.C., for the March for Life, I find that there is no limit to how my eyes can be opened to my cause. In reflection, I feel connected with, not only my fellow marchers, but with myself and my beliefs. Even after two previous years, I feel called to look at my life and how I live out my pro-life activism at home. More than anything else, marching for life has emphasized to me the importance of having a reputation as a peaceful, compassionate advocate, concerned with preserving the most precious aspects of life for everyone. While I thought I had prepared a lot to go on the march, I realize now that the trip was really meant to prepare me for my mission: to spread love and an appreciation for life in my community. Empowered by the inspiring stories I heard and spiritual connections I have made, I hope to positively represent the pro-life generation and use my compassion and understanding to change hearts, starting at home.

It is important for Catholic teenagers to take an active stand for the sanctity of all human life, from conception until natural death for a few reasons. For example, some teens feel they are not taken seriously or that their beliefs do not matter. Through the participation in the March for Life, teens can see that their opinions do matter and that they are more than capable of making a change. Similarly, TV shows, such as “16 and Pregnant,” can represent teens in a negative way; some consider it normal for teens to get pregnant and have abortions. This style of life does not embody all teens, however; I hope to put a more spiritual face on my generation and make a positive difference by standing up for the right and just thing. Even though I have faced many conscience-shaking challenges, work hard with two jobs, and deal with anxiety about my mom’s cancer, I am grateful every day for being a loved child of God. In short, it is important for Catholic Christian teens to break the age-barrier as I believe I have, and demonstrate to the world the great things that can happen when young people realize their worth and wish to communicate love and respect to all.

The March for Life has been a great opportunity for people to take a stand for what they believe in. If my mother’s diagnosis has taught me anything, it is that all life is a blessing from God and should be treated as one, as no one knows how much time they will receive. My life was only possible because abortion was not an option for my mother, and the value of her in my life has not decreased now that she is sick. It is my job to speak for the children whose value is not being considered, because everyone deserves the chance to be alive and be loved.

As published is the March 2015 edition of “Christ is Our Hope” magazine produced by the Diocese of Joliet.


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