The Works of God

Trig Palin has been in the news a lot lately because of his famous mother’s book tour.  That little boy has generated quite a bit of response in his young life.

Lon Jacobs is general counsel for News Corporation and a father of a child with intellectual disabilities.  He describes himself as a pro-choice Democrat in this Wall Street Journal opinion article from last Friday.  He makes some interesting observations about abortion in the United States:

I don’t presume to tell others what to do when they are faced with these difficult decisions. But I worry that women who find themselves pregnant with a child who has a physical or mental disability get only one message, which is all about the burden about to be dumped in their laps. Today, nine out of 10 American women who are told they have a child with Down syndrome choose to abort. I think it’s fair to say that if some of these potential parents had a glimpse of the other side they might have made a different decision.

Americans are said to be starkly divided on the issue of abortion. However, most people I know are somewhere in the middle. There are people who call themselves pro-life but will stand by a daughter who obtains an abortion. Others call themselves pro-choice but applaud the message of the movie “Juno,” where a teenager brings her pregnancy to term so she can give the child to a loving couple.

Unfortunately, there is a another category of people who say they are pro-choice but ought to be characterized as aggressively pro-abortion. These are the people who heap venom and ridicule on Mrs. Palin for bringing Trig into the world. Their views should be troubling to all, especially people who want respect for a woman’s right to choose.

I must admit to being perplexed – how a man who experiences his daughter as a joy and who is afraid of the excesses of the abortion movement can still advocate for abortion, even if he wants it to be rare.  But I do take this encouragement from it: he is not afraid to call out those from his own political party who hate our unborn children with disabilities.

The first Sunday of Advent also renews the traditional Bethlehem practice of having children light the advent candle.

It is a tradition I love as fourth-grade boys and girls very seriously carry out this duty.  It is good for children to be given serious duties.

Three years ago the Family Discipleship Department invited a multiply-disabled boy (who happens to be my boy) to participate in this event.  The evening of the lighting, a series of events led to his sister unexpectedly walking with him down the aisle.

It remains one of the precious memories of my life – my boy and my girl walking together down the aisle at my church for Advent.

I know I was not alone in having tears in my eyes!

May God give you a precious, beautiful, memorable Advent memory this year that makes much of God and brings you great joy!