By Teresa Martin
“A babe in the house is a wellspring of pleasure, a messenger of peace and love, a resting place for innocence on earth, a link between angels and men.”
– Martin Farquhar Tupper (philosopher, author, poet)
MANY of you will have had the experience of being transported to an earthly version of Heaven as you rested your lips on the tops of your babies’ heads and breathed them in.
It is the most soothing experience a mother or father can have. For that instant, all cares pale away into insignificance and you are lost in the moment.
It is this moment we strive to have our young, unexpectedly-pregnant mothers and fathers experience.
It is this moment when all the difficulties of their situation are soothed and become a thing of the past.
It is this moment when the problems of an unexpected pregnancy become a springboard for a better future.
No-one has the right to rob them of this.
Abortion steals this moment from them.
Abortion takes the grief of the loss of their babies and jackhammers it with guilt.
Abortion fractures the natural law written in their hearts to love and nurture (mothers) and protect and provide (fathers).
The moment in time when that mother, that father, no longer “hides” behind the “I had to do it” and says to themselves, “I took my baby’s life away” is a moment we never want any parent to experience. The crushing weight of that honest acknowledgement is devastating for them.
What can we do to stop abortion, to stop any parent from ever having such a life-shattering experience?
We can pray. We can join the 40 Days of Prayer for Life campaign being run in Brisbane.
You can start the campaign in your own area – contact 40 Days by phoning (07) 3149 3189.
We can’t encourage you strongly enough to be a peaceful, prayerful presence outside abortion mills.
As Monsignor Phillip Reilly says, “We are at Calvary” when we go to abortion mills to pray for the girls going in to have their babies become innocent victims of abortion.
We can also be a public witness to the sanctity and sacredness of human life by attending the Rally For Life (www.rallyforlife.com.au) being held in Queen’s Park, Brisbane (cnr George and Elizabeth Streets) at 2pm on Saturday, February 22. There will be music with Roby Curtis and Band from 1pm.
The guest speakers this year are well-known and well-respected Margaret Tighe, of Right to Life Australia, and Wendy Francis, from the Australian Christian Lobby.
Tim Rushbrook, father of a child with Down syndrome, will also be speaking from a personal aspect on life issues. Bring a rug/chair, hat, water, sunscreen, umbrella and a peaceful disposition.
To ensure the continuation of the rally each year, donations on the day are appreciated.
If you are unable to attend and would like to give a donation, send in an envelope clearly marked “Rally donation” to Cherish Life Queensland, PO Box 1382, Toowong DC 4066 or call (07) 3871 2445 to make a donation.
Teresa Martin is the president of Cherish Life Queensland.
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