The Fate of Baby "Wiggles"

“For the first time, your vote on the topic of abortion can make a difference.” This is the statement at the top of a website: www.birthornot.com . It seemed a horrifying joke that parents-to-be would put the fate of their baby in the hands of the internet public. However it appears to be for real. A couple from Minnesota put up the site for their fourth pregnancy. It appears that there were two prior miscarriages recently and three pregnancies total. The website allowed a vote on whether to abort or give birth to the baby the couple named “Wiggles”. The vote was to stay open until December 7, two days before the December 9^th deadline when an abortion could still be legally obtained in that state.

Over 2 million “votes” were cast. The poll closed as of November 28. This seems largely due to a website inundating the birthornot site with an abortion vote. As of the close of the vote, approximately 78% of the vote was for abortion with a mere 22% for birth. It seems many did not take it seriously or thought that a couple that would willingly ask the public to decide should not have a child. The results are supposedly being sent to a third party to verify and remove double and suspected fake votes. The site still promises that the results will be public.

Originally, there was an “out” clause listed on the site. However, since many people are questioning the legitimacy of the poll, it seems to have been removed. The husband’s mother was quoted as saying they would have the right to veto it, just like the president. There has been much web discussion on the real intention of the site. Many refer to the fact that the father has been on other websites appearing to be conservative and right-wing.

The site follows a “He Said”/”She Said” format in a sort of online journal describing the pregnancy. If read from the beginning (oldest posts), the fear of continuing the pregnancy is evident. The last miscarriage was fairly recent. The miscarriages showed genetic issues. Some of the posts sound selfish and probably should have been considered before getting pregnant. Many of the posts contain facts about Baby Wiggles size or ultrasound pictures.

The couple has received numerous comments on each post. Several seem very negative and hateful. The couple refers to receiving personal e-mail through the site that has been more positive. They have had several offers to adopt if the poll ends up abortion. There has been lots of media regarding the site. It appears the wife lost her job, mainly due to the controversy of the site. This is probably an unexpected casualty in a war already appearing winless.

While the method may be completely unorthodox, it does seem to get people conversing about pro-life/pro-choice. A pro-choice person who would not think of purposely looking at an ultrasound has received exposure to the fact that Baby Wiggles LOOKS like a baby. This is a poll that if this child is brought to term, will eventually recognize the uproar regarding his/her life. While the fate of Baby Wiggles is being decided somewhere in a statistical formula, we can pray for that little life and the thousands of other little lives that are not even being polled.

Psalm 139:13-16 (NIV) ¹³ For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. ¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. ¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. ¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

Give Thanks...His love endures forever

“Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever.” - Psalm 136:1,26

I have put off writing.  I don't really even know why.  Well, I guess I kind of do.  When I write, I need to come down from my little mountaintop of believing everything is good and I'm handling life just fine.  If I help everybody else, I can ignore my own "issues" or whatever the new buzzword is.

Then I looked at my blog because I wanted to put something on it (coupon database from Consumer Queen - scroll WAAAAYYY down).  I realized how long it has been since I wrote on here.  Sometimes the "Verse of the Day" gives me a good starting point.  It WAS something about telling people what God has done for you.  Good thought and I don't do near enough....or I don't give credit where credit is due.  By the time I finished what I wanted to do, the verse changed to the one above.  Also timely, especially with Thanksgiving this past week.

Sometimes I give "thanks" too much.  I have a habit of saying thanks for everything even before I fully complete what I'm doing or another person is doing for me.  So I GIVE thanks, but am I really thankful?    Have I taken time to be thankful FOR His love that endures forever?  The verse was a good reminder to me that God's love will help me no matter what....even on my way down from the mountaintop.  Mainly because I don't have to do it myself.  God is at the top, He's at the bottom...and He's in the struggles and battles in the middle.

Because these verses mentioned 1 and 26, I went and read the whole Psalm.  It really is beautiful.  It tells the story of creation, the struggles that He helped the Israelites through, and at the end talks about us.  Each line ends with "His love endures forever".  If you would like to look it up: 

(  http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm%20136&version=NIV  )  

The Message version refers to that line as "His love never quits".  Both are good....and true.  His love doesn't give up....even when I feel like it.

Finding Your Strong Tower

Today, I was physically reminded of the protection provided by buildings. It has been extremely windy in our area the past few days. The last couple were windy, but warm. When I headed out the door today, I didn't grab my coat...figuring the day would be similar to the last couple. WRONG! Today was windy, cold AND blowing rain.

I got out of my car and ran toward the door. There is a small stream area to run over on a bridge. NO protection from the blowing wind. I could feel the wind blowing roughly on my face and right through my sweat shirt. As I neared the door, the building juts out and offers some protection. Instantly warmer and dryer thanks to the roof overhead.

I thought about the verse regarding a strong tower. I was grateful for the protection provided by the walls of the building. I looked up some info on towers and was further reminded of the protection and advantages they serve.

Towers are tall which provides a good overview of an area. Towers offer protection from weather and enemies. Towers are strong and a good place of shelter during battles.

There are times in life when we feel unprotected and beat up by the battles that surround us. It is good to know that there is a tower waiting to provide protection, safety and a place of calm in the storm. The tower also offers the opportunity to look at the big picture and not just the little piece right in front of us.

Proverbs 18:10 (NIV) The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.

Praying that you find a strong tower in the name of the Lord. Do not be afraid to run there often....and be safe. We'll still have battles, but we will not fight alone.

EneME

Enemy: one that is antagonistic to another; especially : one seeking to injure, overthrow, or confound an opponent (Merriam-Webster)

"We have met the enemy and he is us" Walt Kelly

I'm thinking lately of all the things and excuses that I have let stand in my way of getting to where I want to be....or better yet, where God wants me to be. The dictionary definition refers to being antagonistic to another. However, I am coming to the conclusion that sometimes I become overly disappointed with myself. I am my own worst enemy...hence the eneME.

Eventually (I would like to say that it is taking less and less time, but still a work in progress), I start to realize that I am not as content. My feelings start to rule, and I start to believe that it's easier to give up then continue to fight. It takes courage to face our discouragement.

I have definitely noticed though that what I focus on can be used against me. When I get too busy to take time for devotions or I listen too much to music that doesn't lift me up, I start feeling like I'm losing the battle. The enemy starts to win and gains ground. Thankfully, God loves me (and you) too much to leave us alone to fight this battle.

^{Psalm 31:8 (NIV)} You have not handed me over to the enemy but have set my feet in a spacious place.

The battle for our mind is ongoing.  We need to remember and keep reminding ourselves that we already have an enemy pursuing us.  Resist and stand firm.  Realize that God helps us fight ALL enemies....even the one within ourselves.  

^{1 Peter 5:7-9 (NIV) 7}Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

 ⁸Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. ⁹Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

The Slipping of the Mask

We all wear a mask you know
it covers the feelings we don't think we should show.

We may feel sad or bad inside
or those feelings of anger we think we can hide.

But, we cover them up with the mask we wear.
Sometimes other people we're trying to spare
from the feelings of pain that don't go away.
We struggle and make it through one more day

Why does life sometimes seem so tough?
That no matter what we do it just isn't enough?

We try so hard to be what we think others want us to be
and in the process, we lose our me.

We might be an adult, but still feel like a child
inside where we hide our inside wild with our mask of mild.

The mask shows a smile when we'd rather cry.
Friends and family might try
to help us see......
it's enough "just" being me.

We hang around people with a smile on their face.
Our mask quickly slips back into place.

But what if their smile is also their mask?
We'll never know if we don't take time to ask.

When we stop being what we think people want or need us to be,
we find the mask can come off.  It's enough to be me.