Playing It Safe

Not as much anymore....

Over the last several weeks, I have sat down to write a post and thought I’d like to write about a certain subject, but felt more than a little inadequate to write a well-thought-out post. I remember at one point last week thinking very clearly the phrase “playing it safe” as I was thinking about what to write over the next several weeks.

I don’t like wading into controversy.

I have watched several people I respect stop playing it safe when it comes to controversial topics, especially when it comes to religious or cultural issues we are facing as a nation. They are respectful in how they engage the controversial topics and hold firm to their convictions.

I am not afraid to play it safe when it comes to talking about my faith or the things I support with my time and money. For some reason, those topics, even though they can be controversial at times, aren’t areas I shy away from.

Yet, I sit at my laptop and have trepidation over wanting to wade into territory I have yet to get into.

Here I go… I am unapologetically pro-life. (I don’t think this is much of a surprise to most of my readers.)

A few weeks ago, a social media influencer and his wife decided to write an incredibly obtuse post about their decision to end their baby’s life due to a genetic test that showed the possibility of Down syndrome.

I read his post and immediately felt that there was such a huge disconnect between what he was saying and what they were doing. It was somehow lost on the couple that they were truly grateful for their fans with disabilities, but decided their own baby was not worth keeping because it had a disability.

I remember feeling a wave of sadness as I saw the responses and articles that followed. Many people who were responding had disabilities and were struggling to understand why the couple made the decision that they did for their unborn child. Others who responded have siblings or friends with disabilities and shared stories about how important their siblings or friends are to them. I wanted to comment at the time about my brother and best friend, both of whom are loved, valued, and matter despite their disability. I didn’t need to respond in the comments of the post. So many others made the same point I wanted to make.

I decided to write a post on my Substack and share my thoughts here.

I have been surrounded by people with disabilities my whole life. I can’t imagine life without them. Their presence in my life has shaped me in ways I am still learning. A disability is not always something a person is born with. A disability can come at any time during a person’s life. Unfortunately, I don’t believe that couple understood that. To me, they seem to be looking for perfection in their child.

I want this couple and any other couple looking to have an abortion due to a genetic test to know that there is hope in Jesus. I want them to know salvation through Jesus. I want them to know and understand that forgiveness, grace, and mercy are there. I also want them to know how precious each life is.

Are you one to play things safely? Do you wade into controversy online? How can I be praying for you this week?