As I leapt into my new role at the diocese over the past few months, I’ve found myself trying to configure a plan of how I am going to build a culture of life here in the Diocese of Sioux Falls.
I can just see Jesus laughing now, “Oh, you are going to do it, huh? Well just holler if you need me.” It’s funny how often I try to do God’s job for Him, or worse, without Him.
It’s becoming clear to me that often what God is asking us to do, is simply share what he’s doing in us. With that in mind, the question that has been knocking on my door the past few years…“What does it really mean to be pro-life?”
Shortly after our honeymoon, I came face to face with this question as I stared at a positive pregnancy test trying (unsuccessfully) to keep my morning sickness at ease. In simple words, this was not our plan. Our marriage was so new! We had grand plans of spending our first year of marriage traveling, making our house a home and adventuring together.
I felt guilty that I wasn’t immediately ecstatic about our news. Am I being pro-life?
Then, a few months later, I again wrestled with the question as my beautiful grandmother lay sick and dying in a hospital bed. My heart broke as I saw her suffering. I felt guilty that I wanted it to be over. How can I call myself pro-life?
In those first few days of my pregnancy and last few days of my grandmother’s life, when the fear was tangible and the suffering immense, I could not escape the question: what does it really mean to be pro-life?
As I walked through Target a few weeks into our pregnancy, discretely looking at the baby clothes, I pondered in my heart what was taking place inside of me.
Though the fear, and letting go of our plan was real, it struck me that the baby girl that now existed was even more real. Her name was Clare and she was alive. Her life had purpose and meaning. Her life was good, simply because she existed.
And then as we gathered around my grandmother’s hospital bed, we began to share stories, laugh about her incredible sense of humor and celebrate her journey of life. Her name was Marguerite. Her life, even there in the final moments, had purpose and meaning. It, too, was good.
There’s something about suffering and struggle that often brings clarity. That day, roaming the Target aisle, it clicked. Being authentically pro-life means that we can freely live in such a way that says, “life is good.” It’s not without fear and it’s certainly not without suffering.
Even gathering in my grandmother’s hospital room, the joy, amidst grieving, was palpable.
To me, being pro-life is not simply about being anti-abortion or against assisted suicide. Being pro-life is a joy that starts within each of us. It’s a joy that sees the goodness of life, and celebrates it, at every stage of the journey.
I can’t argue that we should always embrace the twists and turns of life with a smile on our face. Sometimes that is simply more than we can bare. Yet, we are invited to embrace it nonetheless.
When we take up our crosses in hope, there is joy. This, my friends, is pro-life. A life is a life. That life is good. When we can see that life is good, we are susceptible to insurmountable joy. This is how we build a culture of life.
And it all starts with me.
Emily Leedom
Director of Marriage, Family and Respect Life
Respect Life Month resources and activities:
There are many Respect Life events throughout the month of October and beyond to celebrate and uphold the culture of life. Check with your parish to learn more.
Websites for Additional Information & Resources:
USCCB Pro-Life Events
Diocesan March for Life Pilgrimage: January 17-21, 2018
