Courageous Woman: My Choice for Life

8/21/2012

(Page 3 of 3)

the steps outside the building. He looked at me questioningly. "Well?"

"They didn't do it," I told him.

"What?" he asked in surprise.

I explained to him that the doctor said I was too far along and I would have to go somewhere else to do it. I saw the relief in his eyes and thanked my lucky stars.

We never did go to another clinic. Maybe his Catholic upbringing got the better of him. Maybe he cared about me after all. I only know he had a change of heart and decided to marry me.

Oftentimes I think about what happened that day. Though I did nothing to deserve God's hand in stopping what was about to happen, I can only believe it was divine intervention. There was no possible way I could have been more than twelve weeks along in the pregnancy. I had only missed two periods and the math just didn't add up. I don't question it any more, however, because I'd just go crazy wondering why. Why only me? Why not all those other poor, unfortunate souls in that waiting room?

Six and a half months later, I gave birth to a healthy, happy baby boy we named Kenny. He is now thirty eight years old with an engineering degree from Texas A&M University. He has a great job, a beautiful, intelligent wife who is a certified public accountant, and five lovely, lively and precocious children.

My first child, Lisa, has a biochemistry degree from the University of Texas and a nursing degree from Texas A&M. She is married to a great man with a PhD in Physics from Princeton University. Together they have seven precious, beautiful, intelligent and amazing children.

Their oldest son, a national merit scholar, graduated valedictorian from his high school in Corpus Christi and will attend Princeton University in the fall. And do you know what? He could very well be president of the United States one day. He would make a great one. Yet, had abortion been legal then and my parents chosen to terminate the pregnancy, not only would this young grandson of mine not exist today; neither would his beautiful siblings.

I have no doubt every one of these precious grandchildren of mine will grow up to do important and amazing things someday. We are all designed by God with a purpose in life and none of these precious souls would have had the chance to achieve this purpose and realize their potential in this world had I aborted my babies.

I can't help but wonder about all the young girls dropped off at abortion clinics nationwide by boyfriends who leave them to live with the consequences the rest of their lives.

I think about the women who, as young girls, were betrayed by our culture into believing their fetuses were not real babies and then victimized by laws that made it too easy to get abortions.

I think about all the girls who choose abortion over adoption because our government has made it so much easier to kill a child than to give it away.

I think about the women, traumatized by an abortion when they were young, who now suffer from depression or even thoughts of suicide.

I think about these women because they can only imagine what they lost.

-----

Judy Schulte is a retired teacher living in Goliad, Texas. She taught in elementary school twenty eight years for the Victoria Independent School District during which time she earned a Master's degree in education with a reading specialization. For ten years she also served as a consultant for the New Jersey Writing Project in Texas teaching summer writing institutes to teachers in area school districts. She now works part-time as a librarian at Mission Valley Elementary School in Victoria and is an active member of the First United Methodist Church of Goliad.

- - -

Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

Keywords: marriage, family, natural family planning, abortion, pro-life, Planned Parenthood, teen-age pregnancy

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1 - 10 of 11 Comments

robert matzinger
8 months ago
What a great story from the great lady, who despite her early youthful failings, never closed her heart to God, and therefor her heart was touched by God. And blessed her with wonderful children and grandchildren!

I wonder if president Obama is aware of that such women of faith as this not only exist, but flourish?
Judy Claar
8 months ago
Judy, Thank you for sharing a story that speaks volumes on more than one level. Your story backs up the questions I posted, on the article of "Sterilization". You mentioned that you were still a child at 15. How you really did not know what certain things meant, yet you thought that you knew, but you did not. You mentioned going in to have the procedure, and what it was like, all alone. Your story is ripe, and full of information. Thanks again for sharing. Cherish Today...
Elysha
8 months ago
Thank you for sharing!
Dee Phelps
8 months ago
I am so very happy to have read your story. The great and beautiful gifts of life that you received and were blessed with following your decision to NOT get an abortion is testament of the goodness and Love of God. Such joy with their laughter and lives...

How helpless and sorry I feel that many more women have not made the decision you did. We can only pray they find peace and forgiveness of self and reconciliation with the Lord. Let us also continue to pray that these many wrongs that governments procure will be made right in the sight of our loving Creator. For already the cup of chastisement runs over...how can we expect reward when so many innocent lives cry out from the ground to their Lord? I pray for conversions of hearts and a return to God. Thank you for remaining faithful.
Judy Schulte
8 months ago
Susan, I never was a Catholic. I've been a Methodist for about 30 years.
Michelle
8 months ago
Oh, goodness, abortion is so evil. All the missing people from our lives. I'm so happy to read your story, Judy!

I became pregnant at a young age, also. The father wanted me to get an abortion, too. He was wicked about it. At the time, my current husband and I were friends. I told him the whole story. He said for me to not dare get an abortion and that he would take care of me and the baby, and he has to this very day, 25 years later. (My parents were supportive, his were very concerned about it, of course, but it all worked out. He and his parents have loved this child as their own.) I never saw the "father" again. I know God blessed me with my husband...not many men left like him.

Our daughter is now married with a beautiful little son of her own. We wouldn't have our terrific son-in-law and grandson if I had killed her in an abortion. I cannot even imagine such an evil act. We would have missed so very much.
Susan Rotondi
8 months ago
Thank you for choosing Life. But are you no longer Catholic and now Methodist? Odd twist. Are you sure this is God's will for you?
Branagh
8 months ago
Great story. Thank you for sharing.
abey
9 months ago
For it was/is/ to be said "Be fruitful & Multiply" meaning in Quality & in Quantity, through keeping His word . For it does not profit at all to go against the word of God, even for experiments sake(as man propagates through his generations, it is the duty of the older to get the younger ones read," Parents to Children", to avoid pitfalls in terms of experiments & experiences for its sake or for any sake) only to a loss of precious time by the origin, for unto all things is the Appointed time.
jh
9 months ago
What a beautiful, uplifting story! Thank you, Ms. Schulte, for telling us your experiences. May God bless you and your family.

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