Thursday, February 2, 2012

The Translation Series: Defining Life

This will be a portion of a series I'm starting called "The Translation Series" as I think outside the box for ideas that might help you to communicate with and understand the younger generation in your life.
So you want your kids to understand the importance of abortion. You’ve tried talking to them about it and have solicited the following responses:

  • “Who are we to control what a woman does to her body!”
  • “If a couple can’t take care of the child they have, why have another?”
  • “If you aren’t able to financially care for a child, why have one and provide a less than desirable life later?”
  • “It’s not a real life yet!”
  • “They weren’t ready for a child yet! They want to enjoy their life first”
  • “He left her. She can’t take care of the baby on her own, all alone!”
Feel free to add to the list as I’m sure there are 
dozens of other responses when you say: 
“Abortion is never okay!” 

After soliciting a similar response as above, your next question is probably “How do I convince these younger adults that abortion is not okay? How do I get them to listen?!?!”
Start by reviewing this basic tip page on how to reach the younger generations [if you don’t see a link here, it’s still in progress]. Then consider the following suggestions.

  • Make the issue personal and start by doing your research. How many abortions have taken place in your/their own community? How many abortion clinics are in your surrounding areas? Contact your local pro-life group chapter, visit a national website or start googling to find out the break down of numbers.

  • Make things visual. If your child is still under your roof or you still have sway with them, have them watch a movie that demonstrates the beginning of life, facts on the stages for when a baby develops (Try googling Students for Life or Right to Life, or a TED talk shared to the right here).

  • Use Numbers. How many babies have been aborted since your child was born? Spell it out for them: if x amount of children were not aborted, which of them would have been their friends? Their neighbors? How would their presence have helped the economy by being tax payers or consumers of certain items? What families would they have?

  • Share the facts. When they tout the idea that abortion is valid, necessary and justified, share simple casual facts: “Did you know that the majority of women who have had abortions have emotional and physical problems later? Did you know that siblings of aborted children suffer? Did you know that a certain percentage of dads whose children have been aborted … “ and so on. Find facts via Right to Life or Students for Life websites.

  • Offer alternatives. Share stories of parents who want to adopt as they have not been able to conceive their own children. Do they know of the Pregnancy Resource center in their area that has supplies read to help moms in need? Oftentimes churches might be willing to be a support. Share facts of children and how they benefit from two parent homes vs one parent homes, if a mom is considering raising her baby alone.
Your approach may differ based on the age of your child, their reason for justification, their culture of friends. I hope this is a help!  There is no abc steps but perhaps these give you a few launching ideas. Please start the process. The younger generations desperately need more parents and grandparents to start the conversation.

Note: If you find helpful resources you want to share with other readers of this post, please share ideas in the comments section, or post websites/tips on my facebook profile. Thanks! www.facebook.com/amyjaynehawkins