National Sanctity of Human Life Day

Yesterday (Saturday) was the funeral for my little boy Zachary. He died before he was given the chance to be born. And like any life that ends, he left a hole in our hearts and in our lives. In another post at another time I may talk more about the loss of our son, Zachary Thomas. What I wanted to share with you now is the fact that his life deserved recognition and my husband and I are lucky enough to be part of a community who supports us in recognizing the dignity of all human life. So yesterday morning we celebrated Zachary's life with a funeral and a burial service surrounded by the love of family and friends both near and far.

That brings us to today, Sunday January 18. Only one day after saying goodbye to a life I carried for 22 weeks but never got to know, I learn that today was declared National Sanctity of Human Life Day. The proclamation begins:

All human life is a gift from our Creator that is sacred, unique, and worthy of protection. On National Sanctity of Human Life Day, our country recognizes that each person, including every person waiting to be born, has a special place and purpose in this world. We also underscore our dedication to heeding this message of conscience by speaking up for the weak and voiceless among us.

My husband and I took some time out of our day today to attend a Vigil for Life in downtown Lexington. It was about 33 degrees and snowing the whole time we stood together outside the courthouse listening to people speak about the importance of protecting life from conception until natural death. It was cold, but it was uplifting. The work being done in our community and around the country in support of life is amazing. We prayed together, standing out in the elements, for our new administration that they too will recognize the dignity of all human life and will put an end to abortion in this country.

For me, it was difficult at times to stand there and listen to the speakers and pray for an end to abortion after just having lost my son. It occurred to me several times during that hour that many people have aborted babies who were as far along as I was with Zachary and definitely abortions have taken place at or later than when I lost Casey back in March of 2008. It saddens me to no end to think of all the children that have been lost all in the misguided notion of "choice." I didn't have a choice in my losses, I have to bear the unthinkable while others tell women in crisis pregnancies that it is only a blob of tissue they are carrying. I held my baby boy and I can testify to the fact that he was indeed a baby.

The emcee for today's event (an adoptive parent himself) said towards the end of the event that what we need is more education. We need to speak out for all those unborn children who can't speak for themselves. We need to affirm our country's promise made in the Declaration of Independence that all have the right to LIFE, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. So through my blog, I hope that I can reach others and that my words here will educate those who read them in a better understanding of what life really is.

Thanks to all those who offered their support to my husband and I over this past, very difficult week. Thanks to all those who continue the pro-life work and who support others in pro-life ministry. Thanks to all who will be attending the March for Life in Washington, D.C. this coming Thursday (wish we could be there with you). And thanks to President Bush for declaring today National Sanctity of Human Life Day.