No free contraception? We’re all going to die!

March 18, 2014June 25, 2014 ~ Laura ~ 1 Comment

Next week the supreme court will hear the case of Hobby Lobby vs. Sebelius, a case which could have a great impact on the direction of religious liberty in America. Here’s the official description of the issue:

“Whether the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 (RFRA), 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000bb et seq., which provides that the government “shall not substantially burden a person’s exercise of religion” unless that burden is the least restrictive means to further a compelling governmental interest, allows a for-profit corporation to deny its employees the health coverage of contraceptives to which the employees are otherwise entitled by federal law, based on the religious objections of the corporation’s owners.”

Hobby Lobby owners object to the use of contraception based on their religious beliefs, and they don’t want to be part of providing them to people. Simple enough, right?

Turns out some people aren’t okay with their access to free birth control being taken away.

*GASP*

No free contraception?!!?!?!?!?! It’s the end of the woooooooooooorld!

Sorry, this isn’t a funny issue 🙂 But how hard is it to understand that you’re not entitled to free contraception? Planned Parenthood is making a big deal about how this decision should be between you and your doctor, not your boss.

But guess what? If companies chose to not cover contraception in their insurance plan, you are still perfectly free to march yourself down to Walmart or Walgreens and buy yourself a lovely device or carcinogen. Yay!

You see, eliminating contraception from insurance plans doesn’t mean you can’t use it. It just means you have to be a grown up and pay for it. That should be common sense. And guess what? Many people agree. here’s one woman’s take on it:

“Medical insurance is for emergency visits and check-ups, and most contraception isn’t a medical necessity or required to maintain your health. Just because something is costly doesn’t mean you can cry foul, try and deem it a right, and demand that someone else (the deep, endless pockets of corporations or other taxpayers) pays for it.”

We don’t get actual life-saving medical care for free (think blood pressure medication or diabetes treatment), so why should we get contraception (a purely elective medication/device which halts the natural function of your body) at no cost?

Riddle me that, Planned Parenthood.

Honored.

March 3, 2014June 25, 2014 ~ Laura ~ 6 Comments

Since beginning pro-life work, I have been amazed at the opportunities sent my way. Seriously. I have no way to describe the ways God has given me to exercise the gifts and talents he’s blessed me with.

After a sidewalk counseling training session at Benedictine College — After a sidewalk counseling training session at BC

If no one in my family supported my work, I’d still do it because I believe it’s right. If my friends teased me because of it (okay, sometimes they think it’s a little much 😉 ) I would still continue it because it’s right. If my college tried to silence my voice, I would still do pro-life work because it’s right. And I feel called to it. But the support I have has not threatened my work. It’s nearly blown my mind.

Sometimes I feel completely unworthy of the amazing people and opportunities I have been (and continue to be) given. Really, God? Who am I to be doing all this? I’m not anyone special. But then I remember that God doesn’t call the equipped. He equips the called. And I continue this work because I feel called to it. It’s what I’m good at and passionate about.

This summer I am honored to have the opportunity to partner with RealOptions in a pro-life internship where I will be working with church and community leaders to build partnerships and to create awareness for the services of RealOptions: professional medical services, practical support for women and men facing unplanned pregnancies, prevention education for students, and post-abortion services. They are a fabulous life-affirming alternative to abortion, and I’m excited to work with them.

A wonderful family friend offered to help me set up a fundraising campaign to make this unpaid internship possible and to replace lost income.

If you’re able, I would be honored to have you join my work through your support. And if you’re not able to contribute personally, it would mean a great deal to me if you could share this campaign. You can do so by sharing this post, or by going to the campaign link and sharing from there on all forms of social media. Here’s the promotional video I made:

In just the past couple hours of this campaign being “live”, the support has been incredible. It moves me to see so many people supportive of my work. I’m almost in tears at this point because I can hardly believe the response. I don’t even know what to say except “thank you”. It’s so encouraging to see so many people supporting work that can be so hard sometimes.

Though I have to say, there are at least 10 joyful moments for every difficult one in this movement.

Laura with Abby Johnson, a pro-life inspiration, at the March for Life 2014 — Meeting Abby Johnson at the March for Life 2014

Like early last Saturday when I had a beautiful conversation freezing outside an abortion clinic with a couple who was there for an abortion. They were hurting so much, and there were anti-abortion (not pro-life) people yelling at them. They told the boyfriend what a sinner he was and so on. The girlfriend came out crying and you could just see the pain. They were talking in the car for a while, and I smiled at them and waved.

They drove over and we talked right there in the driveway. They were so hurt by the people that were yelling, and I assured them that I believed in them and saw the greatness in them. They so appreciated that, and I gave them contact information for local free clinics to help them out. She told me was was 3 months along and I got excited and showed them the 12 week fetal model I carry in my pocket there. They were fascinated by it. No one ever told them about their baby. But I didn’t dwell on that. I listened to them express their concerns, and I did my best to let them know we cared about them. They ended up driving away without making a final decision, and I pray they know that people out there care.

That moment was so inspiring for me. Their eyes just said everything. They could see that we aren’t all haters out there to condemn. In what little time I had with them, I hope they know they are loved.

It’s when we take the time to love people that amazing things happen. I fail at it constantly, of course. We all do. But I cannot even put into words how incredible it is to be part of something so beautiful and human. That’s the heart of it, and the heart of all my pro-life work. It’s all about loving the person.

Your support means so much to me. Know that through it, you’re helping me to help make the world a better place. Stay tuned for updates on my work and how you can get involved!

Please visit this link to support my work and to share the campaign. Thank you!

Contact me or comment below with any questions.

Love says thou shalt not yell

February 7, 2014June 25, 2014 ~ Laura ~ 5 Comments

If I had to chose the hardest part about being an active member of the pro-life movement, it would be the people who aren’t really pro-life. But others think they are.

Let me elaborate.

If you’ve been outside an abortion clinic, you’ve probably seen it: the people who stand there and yell crazy thing at people going in. Try to talk to them and they just start going off about how we’re heretics who worship Mary and or we’re not true Christians or something along those lines. Women who are already in crisis mode blast their ipods and huddle close to the boyfriend or mother who is bringing them in as they walk through the barrage of comments. “You’re going to hell!” the people on the sidewalk yell. And the women walk past. Right into the inviting arms of the clinic.

When the women are inside, the men stand there using a traffic cone as a megaphone and yell how the clients are violating each commandment. Oh, and the clinic workers? They let ’em have it too.

One time in the last few months we were outside praying when a boyfriend/husband/partner of a client inside came out for a smoke. The sidewalk is close enough to this particular clinic that you can talk to anyone and everyone outside. However, the man with his cone took the opportunity to condemn the father and elaborate how much of a sinner he was. And by golly, hell was most definitely in his future.

Encouraging, right?

NOT.

I wanted so badly to go and talk to the father. Just ask him how he was. He was so obviously hurting. You could see it in his eyes. Who knows what circumstances led him and the mother of his child there? I could see that he was almost in tears while being verbally abused by this man with the cone. I wanted to intervene, but didn’t. It was so loud and the people who yell don’t listen to what we have to say. But to this day I feel so bad for the man who was out there smoking and pray he has found some peace.

Last time we were outside the clinic, the people who yell were in the middle of a conference (meaning they brought tons of people) and they filmed this video. Be warned, there is some language and graphic signs.

You know what strikes me?

There are people across the country who do this and they always claim to be bringing the gospel to people. But I don’t see that. Jesus ate dinner with sinners, healed, and forgave them. He met them where they were. These people who call themselves abortion abolitionists condemn people. They yell hateful things. There is no love visible to the world. Oh, AND last time we were there some of them were chatting and taking dance breaks outside the clinic.

Now I can’t judge what their motivation is. I know they want to end abortion. But I can’t help but recognize how their movement is centered around a righteous mentality of telling other people what to do.

Sure, stand there with a sign. Yell at people. That’s easy, folks.

You know what’s not easy?

Opening your heart to the clients going in. Putting your comfort on hold to stand in the snow and pray for people who are victims of abortion (the children, women who are coerced, and fathers who weren’t given a say). Getting up at o-dark-thirty on a Saturday morning to offer resources and alternatives to people going inside these clinics. Just being there and starting conversations is hard when you have people yelling nasty things around you.

But it’s important because parents need to know they have options. They need to be empowered with knowledge to be able to make an informed decision. They need to know they are people worthy of love, and that they can make a better life for themselves.

And you know what? Yelling doesn’t do that.

Yelling says “What you are doing is wrong and you are a sinner. You are a murderer. You are a terrible person. How can you do such a horrendous thing?”

But love says “I don’t know why you are here, but I know that you are hurting and need a shoulder to lean on. Let me love you by putting your needs first and taking the time out of my day to be with you and empower you to be the person you can be.”

Now you tell me. If you were a young mother or father facing a crisis moment and in total survival mode – which approach would you be more receptive to hearing?

Dear Feminists, I’m Sorry

February 5, 2014June 25, 2014 ~ Laura ~ 5 Comments

Sometimes when I read an article I’m inspired. Other times I’m dumbfounded by America. And a couple times recently I read something that made me sad (which doesn’t happen too often).

To The Women Who Choose Not To Have Kids

“Thank you for not succumbing to the societal pressures. “

“Thank you for not trying to compromise who you are in an effort to keep a partner around.”

“So thank you. It’s not easy to stand firm with your belief. Honestly, truly, and genuinely: thank you.”

I Look Down On Young Women With Husbands And Kids And I’m Not Sorry

“Every time I hear someone say that feminism is about validating every choice a woman makes I have to fight back vomit.

Do people really think that a stay at home mom is really on equal footing with a woman who works and takes care of herself?”

“If women can do anything, why are we still content with applauding them for doing nothing?”

The rant about how this is not true feminism and how degrading it it for women who choose to have families and those who would like to but can’t could go on forever. But that’s not where this post is heading.

Instead I want to say how sorry I am for women who are so opposed to the notion of children (and married life in general) that they feel the desire to write things like this.

I’m sorry you perhaps have never experienced a joyful family environment. Most people who have could not possibly be so repulsed by families. If you have not experienced crazy dinner conversations that force you to close the back door so neighbors don’t stare at you weird the next day, then I’m sorry. Especially if you come from a broken family, I’m sorry you missed out.

I’m sorry you find children so disturbing and burdensome. It’s occurred to me how most people probably don’t have experience with kids because families have two kids and then there aren’t more around until you have your own. I count it as a blessing to be part of a “large” family and to have all my babysitting experience gained throughout the years. It’s made me appreciate the sacrifice families make everyday to work together because in the end families are what holds this world together.

In the end, the choice to get married and have kids is yours. Not everyone is capable of being a good parent, so maybe that’s where you’re coming from. But please don’t hate on moms. Moms make so many sacrifices for their kids, and their work is harder than any office job. You try being on call 24/7, not sleeping, worrying about the future, and running a household and then tell me it’s a walk in the park. I don’t think so.

c/o jean smith photography — Such a burden, huh?

Now I don’t have much authority on the beauty of mother hood since obviously I’m young and not married or anything. But I’ve seen awesome families. And I’ve seen not-so-awesome families. But does that matter so much? When you get to the end of your life, I hardly imagine you’d prefer to lay on your deathbed gazing lovingly at the diplomas on the walls and the million emails you sent around to coworkers. How about having a loving family around you? People who have been there you whole life no matter what you do and the mistakes you made. Families are what holds us together when things go wrong, and they are the people who celebrate every milestone with you as well.

Families rock. And babies rock too.

If you’ve never experienced that, then I’m sorry. You’re missing out. I think it would be harder for you to hate children so much if you ever had the chance to love them.

February Challenge Day 5: A Movie Review

February 4, 2014June 25, 2014 ~ Laura ~ 3 Comments

*WARNING: This post contains spoilers. *

Here’s the back ground: Apple (played by Vanessa Hudgens) grew up without her father and with her mother who was a drug addict (and had a partner who was abusive). The mother loved Apple to the extent of the welfare she received from her, though you can’t deny there was probably something deeper.

Apple got so fed up from being passed through the foster care system that she ran away to her father whom she had never met. She discovers he is married with the perfect two kids and working on Wall Street. Nice, right? Oh, and conveniently she’s pregnant at 16. Through a various series of events, she decides to keep the baby, but she doesn’t have a place to go.

Various acts of kindness from others land her at a women’s shelter for young mothers where she is able to learn to trust people for the first time. Apple grows in a big sisterhood powwow and there are lots of cute babies. The girls all come from diverse pasts, but are bound together with the tenacity they have and motivation they are given from their house mothers to become the person they dream of being.

It’s a story of Hope, really, which is the name Apple gives her daughter. That’s the underlying message. No matter what your past is, or what you’re faced with (unplanned babies, crazy mothers who stalk you, etc.), you can overcome your past. You are more than it. Apple proves that when she has Hope and makes a better life for her.

Kathy (Ann Dowd) praises Apple (Vanessa Hudgens) during her proudest moment… | See #GimmeShelter today: http://bit.ly/GimmeShelterTix

When I first heard of the movie Gimme Shelter, it surprised me what big name actors were in this kind of a movie. With such a life-affirming message, why would they be part of it? Interestingly, it was not made or marketed as a specifically pro-life film, but it certainly gives off that message. It’s certainly no Hollywood-esque type film, but it’s real. It made me cry at more than one part.

And dude. The babies are really cute 🙂

Another cool thing about the movie? It’s a real story. The woman who started the shelter is Kathy DiFiore (pictured below) who has a big heart for women who just need to be loved in a time when so much is going on.

This picture is referenced in the movie.

I highly recommend seeing this movie not because it’s the next Hollywood hit, but because it’s a real story of hope. Life bring so much joy, despite the circumstances. It probably won’t be out in theaters for too much longer, so go see it soon! If you have already, what did you think?