Every life matters

A child, wanting to live life. Innocent, free,ready to dream. Then tragedy happens.

It can happen in an instant, at any age. To anyone- man or women, girl or boy. Even babies! We can't protect ourselves against the sin of another.Rapists are everywhere.

What if you didn't know what sex was?What if someone invaded your space?What if your family abandoned you due to shame?Fear?Or theywere just plainly abusivepeople.

Would you keep a babyfathered through rape? Most people wouldn't!

She was 16, innocent,when a man climbed into her bedroom and raped her. Her parents kept her locked away for 9 months. She no doubt was scared, her parentsand brothers ashamed of the baby. They kicked herandbeat her. Eventually, shelay bleeding on the door step, giving birth.

She had made a choice to keep the baby. She had carried her for 9months and suffered in the long term. She named the baby Sonia.They were taken awayand placed in a home, butthesevere trauma developedinto mental illness, and there was no way they could be kept together.

Most people would see all the negatives and say "abort"!

"What chance has that baby got?"

"Pure evil."

"Why would you even consider givinglife to a baby who was fathered by a rapist."

"What if the child turnsout the same?"

"End it's life to save both parties the pain, shame, abuse and suffering."

"After all,that baby will bea constant reminder of the RAPE!"

"If the baby looks like him, you'll hate it –you can't keep it!"

"Don't have it, poor child!"

That baby, Sonia,was me!I am theresult of RAPE!

When I finally met my birth mother, she saw his face, and she remembered the pain.

I was 17, but she still couldn't forget what had happened. She called me Sonia. I was still her baby.

It wasn't just the rape, or being locked in her room that had caused her trauma, but it was the neglect of her own parents who beat her to the point that she becameemotionallyunwell and was the mental age of a 12 year old.

I felt in that moment as thoughI was the parent. She was the little girl. She was still in a state of trauma.

She had suffered yet given me life. I was grateful,but I knew we would never meet again.

When I left, I questioned"who am I?"

My whole identity was vulnerable. A rape- me -my father a rapist!

I looked like him shehad said!I felt dirty, ashamed. My life was compromised.

But I turned to my faith,andI sought my value in what the Scriptures said.

That I was planned by God.

He had a plan and purpose for me.

I chose to believe my life mattered!

You may question "That poor mother, look what she went through. Was I worth the pain?"

Look me in the eyesand tell me my life doesn't matter.

My life is worth more than an instance of rape.

I am not the image of rape, but of life, hope and a future.

I was born to survive!

I am so thankful to my birth mother, that she chose to keep me.I cannot imagine what pain she endured to survive with me.

I am truly thankful now as I have 3 children of my own,that my motherchose to give me life- against all the odds. Abortion was not an option.

Every life mattersno matter where or how it was created. In the midst of the storm anything is possible if we choose life!

We must choose to support a rape victim, a single mother, an abused mother and most of all we need to speak hopeand strength into a society who looks fora quick fix, or an escape to hide the pain.We need to give life,as everyone's life matters regardless ofthe circumstances. It's a choice,but no baby should pay for the wrong choice of another.

Life isn't fair;the system is unjust;people get away far too easily with theircrimes. I am not thankful to the man who raped my birth mother. I will never know him.I will never know how manyotherrapes or crimes he committed. He doesn't even know I exist. Forhim it was an act of selfishness, thoughwe cannot ever really imagine the mind of a rapist.

We can't begin to understand why cruelty happens, and we should never accept violence against women. It should never become an act we silence or don't give a voice just because we fear the shame.

Look me in the face, see my heart and tell me I am not worth the life I was given.

Can you?

I hope not. Every life matters!