I am convinced there is no day too long or difficult for a good Hallmark movie to set straight. More often than not, after eating dinner, I am at least temporarily reclining in front of the television for a portion of whatever Hallmark movie is on that evening. Those close to me would suggest this, most definitely, is not something I should broadcast. But the cozy hometown, family-friendly courtship of two sweet souls destined for love fully bloomed five to seven minutes before the end of the show is sure to give anyone solace. What is it about that?!
We love, love.
Whether we’re in the “Valentine’s Day is a fake holiday” camp or donning shirts with hearts and pink socks while watching two endearing characters stumble across their soulmates on-screen, February beckons us to think about love.
A few years back, it became “the thing” to make films, supposed love stories, that were “more realistic,” so they said. Love is messy and usually ends messy. The ideal is unattainable, so give people something they can relate to. I must not have been the only one preferring the happy ending, because these stories now seem few and far between. It also occurs to me that the greatest love stories ever told have the happiest endings. I can’t think about Valentine’s Day without thinking about Christmas.
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16.
We see this scripture draped over balconies at sporting events and hung over highway overpasses. It is easy to breeze through – yes, we get it. Then it occurred to me, as I’m sure it had to you much sooner, what is being conveyed is both deeply profound and simple.
The God who tells us He is love, loved. Then He gave. This so that we would live, it is life giving, counter to death. Love. Giving. Life. The greatest love story is the most ideal. Reality is more beautiful than we could ever imagine, and our attempts to meet it are what fall short, not the other way around.
St. Thomas Aquinas wrote that “to love is to will the good of the other.” Love is giving, for the other’s good. That means it is not selfish, and it is not taking. It seems we’ve gotten things very wrong on this front. How often we hear or see, “if I’m in love, I want_____”, fill in the blank.
A perverted understanding of love inevitably leads to pain.
The most sinister counterbalance or assault on the reality and beauty of love is to equate it with death. Enter the abortion lobby.
According to a blog by the National Women’s Law Center in Washington, DC, “Abortion actually is love. Abortion actually is compassion. Abortion actually is healing. Abortion actually is selfless.” Or you could listen to a podcast “dedicated to reclaiming the way we talk about abortion,” entitled “Abortion, with love.” You could even order a t-shirt, “Abortion is love,” from the Avow Foundation for Abortion Access. They proudly proclaim that “abortion is an act of love for our communities, our families, and ourselves.”
Abortion advocates are working to convince women, girls, couples and families that abortion (death) is love. The battle of the ages is in fact life vs. death, and we see it play out in our movement. In this dark culture, it becomes all the more important that we show true love to those currently facing or who may face unplanned pregnancies, often in fear and alone. Love. Giving. Life.
“Life. The Other Choice.” Our efforts at Right to Life of Michigan are rooted in truth and love.
Love is doing everything we can as a society (giving) to help women make a choice for life. This includes reaching deep into our communities with the truth about abortion, showing compassion to women who find themselves unexpectedly pregnant in each and every instance, and connecting them to a local Pregnancy Resource Center to help provide the myriad of support they may need, including free medical care, clothing, food, confidential counseling and more.
Love is welcoming into our arms post-abortive women seeking healing, mercy, and forgiveness and helping them find a future filled with new hope.
Together, we are offering hope, saving lives and reshaping the culture to welcome and embrace life on every front. It is no small task, and we continue to rely on the support of each and every one of you. The stakes could not be higher, and the impact of our work is boundless.
What can you do?
- If you know someone facing an unplanned pregnancy, tell them help exists, confidential, practical, loving support right in their community. Call or text 1-800-712-HELP.
- Pray for those facing unplanned pregnancies, that they would be wrapped in the loving arms of a community that actively helps and supports them. Pray also for wisdom, guidance, strength, and protection for all of us working to bring the light of life to our communities.
- Email us at [email protected] to get involved in your local Right to Life affiliate.
- And I won’t tell you to watch a good Hallmark movie this evening, but I also won’t tell you NOT to.
God bless, and thank you for all you do to stand for life in love.