To Mother or Murder
Mother’s Day Reflection
This was originally published by Life Issues Institute. Enjoy!
Abortion is an egregious injustice against the unborn. This is the chief reason to be pro-life. However, beyond saying no to murder, we should be asking women to say yes to their natural calling: motherhood.
You won’t need me to tell you this, but it is worth noting here that children require an incredible amount of energy. First are the basic needs that must be provided, including food, shelter, protection, and guidance. Facilitating the complete formation of children, however, requires much more. Most importantly, a strong Christian foundation needs to be impressed upon their beings. Their minds need to be formed to be resilient to sin and prepared to cultivate truth, beauty, and goodness. Beyond strict, explicit formation, there will be times when the children will need less of a governess and instead require more pastoral care. Failures, successes, ups and downs—all will demand practical wisdom to meet the precise moment. The mother’s approach will be marked by warmth and a particular sensitivity to nuance, among many other characteristic qualities. With all that said, we have only scratched the surface of motherhood.
While the mere thought of such a life might elicit fear from an increasing number of people in our culture today, a proper understanding of human nature will put the nerves at ease. Mothers are designed for this demanding work—natural, intrinsic tendencies direct both men and women toward parenthood. What is more daunting than the workload is the prospect of inhibiting this end, and the associated built-in frustration of doing so.
For clarity, it might be helpful to consider this analogy: let’s say you have a stream of water flowing from two points, A and B. This is representative of our natural tendencies, insofar as our being exists in a certain way (being at point A) and our nature directs us (the water flow) to a more mature place (being at point B). If you allow the stream to move you to point B, as it naturally wants to, you won’t have to deal with the trouble that comes with fighting the current. On the other hand, if you choose to work against the stream, perhaps because of a fear of reaching point B, you are orienting yourself in a direction with built-in frustration—fighting the current, if you will, will be necessary.
Of course, another major issue is never reaching the more mature end, point B. The analogy doesn’t illustrate the maturity of the destination, and I won’t have space at present to cover it in great detail, but I will say this: nature loves itself, which is to say, nature wills the good of itself. Thus, nature necessarily directs beings toward ends conducive to their own flourishing. Since we are also natural beings, our tendencies are bound to this same fundamental, ontological reality.
People are wired to be parents. This doesn’t mean all will become parents, just as the flow of water can be impeded from A to B. Nor does it mean it always looks the same, as vocations do indeed vary. Furthermore, men and women are different, which will change how these intrinsic realities come to life. But ultimately, for most, parenthood will best be cultivated through the traditional path of getting married, procreating, etc.
On this Mother’s Day, let us thank the moms in our lives for everything they do. This includes the countless sacrifices they make, the love they pour into their children, and their invaluable contributions. These wonderful women are worth celebrating today and every day. Through celebrating moms, we achieve a greater understanding of the abortion question. Namely, it’s a choice between committing a grave injustice and the beginning steps a woman takes to nourish, not only her children, but her own character. Pro-lifers are, in short, making an argument for her not only to do right by the child, but right by herself.
Happy Mother’s Day, everyone!