Johnson County Right To Life
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Pro-Life Essay Contest Winners - 2022

Maddy Santos - First Place, Senior Division
Grade 12 - Regina High School

"Blessing in Disguise"


We hear that phrase used ALL THE TIME - perhaps too much, and the meaning is now worn thin. But there are no better words to describe a baby born during a crisis pregnancy - particularly a teen pregnancy. It's hard to see past the disguise of worries, uncertainty, and fear that goes with choosing life for an unborn baby.

Yes, the disguise is a good one. It really obscures the blessing.

It looks like this: A teenager announcing her pregnancy to her family. She doesn't want to disappoint her family, even though she knows she already has. She will have to explain her predicament to so many people: parents, siblings, extended family, friends, teachers, and doctors. Reliving that disappointment over and over. And don't forget about the disappointment she has in herself.

Now imagine all the goals and ambitions she has for herself as a high school student: The fall play. The soccer team. The school trip to Europe. The prom. The perfect GPA. The college applications. The college degree that lands you your dream job. And now imagine how that changes when she has a baby in high school.

Those dreams become questions and doubts: Can she even go to school anymore? Will her friends still accept her? Looks like there's no roles for pregnant teens in the school play.

What about the soccer team? She'll be too big to run, right?

The prom? Even if she found a dress to fit her new baby bump, everyone will stare.

Parlez-vous francais? Maybe? Will the doctor let her on an airplane for the trip? Probably not. But she really wants to go - is there any way?

Insomnia and morning sickness have tanked her grades. She can't even think about college right now. How is she graduating high school, let alone college and finding meaningful employment?

Forget about dating and marriage. Even if she had time, who's going to want a high school drop-out, teen mom?

And now the fear sets in. The fear of missing out: missing out on the whole high school experience, missing out on that college degree. Good-bye social life. Good-bye dream job.

That "disguise" is convincing. Really convincing.

Now, see through the disguise. Seeing her baby holding her finger in his tiny fist and knowing that the love she has for him means he could never REALLY disappoint her. And in a flash, she can see him on the soccer team, taking the stage in the school play, dressed to impress for prom with his best friends, and making her so proud as he grows.

If this situation hasn't played out in your family or group of friends, let me be your testament. Once you see through "the disguise," you will absolutely find the greatest blessing in your life. And that baby will grow to find out that you were his greatest blessing, too.

My Harvey is nearly 6 months old and the greatest blessing I have ever received - in disguise or not.

Let me tear off the disguise of your worries, uncertainties, and fears.

If your family isn't supportive of your choice for life, there are many in your community who are. Reach out to them. I did.
You CAN have a high school experience, albeit a bit different. I did. You CAN graduate high school. I will in 3 months.
And I am certain that college, meaningful work and marriage ARE in my future - with my little "blessing in disguise," Harvey, right there with me.

​
Martha Hamilton - Second Place (Tie) - Senior Division
Grade 12 - Homeschool

The Inherent Dignity and Value of Every Human Life


Every life is precious. Every life is beautiful, intricate, and unique. God knew from all of eternity that He would create you. When God made you, He knew that there would never be another like you. No other "you" will ever walk the earth. You can never be replaced. He created you special and unique, with talents, a personality, likes, dislikes and many other qualities. But He gave you something else that is extremely special when He created you. Something that can never be lost or taken away. God gave you dignity. What is dignity? Dignity is one's worth as a person. Your worth comes from God. All people are created in the image and likeness of God. No matter a person's social status, health, physical abilities, disabilities, or anything at all - nothing can change the fact that all people have equal dignity given to them by God the Creator and Maker of all things. All lives have equal dignity.

Abortion does not respect human dignity. Abortion is the deliberate killing of a defenseless and innocent human being. The unborn have the same level of dignity as every other person on earth. Taking the life of an unborn child is tragic as it robs the most innocent and most defenseless humans of a chance for joy and happiness on this earth. Sadly, one of the reasons that many families choose abortion is because of a disability or health diagnosis given to the unborn child. These people are often led to believe that their children will have a "poor quality of life" and that it would be better if they were not born. Or that caring for such a person would be too overwhelming for the family. First of all, God does not make mistakes. Everything He creates is good. Every person has dignity endowed upon them by their Creator. A "disability" does not take away a person's worth. This little one is created special, just like you and me. This baby is absolutely irreplaceable. One cannot simply "get rid" of this unborn child because it is a human being that needs to be cared for and protected just like any other person. Secondly, who are we to say that someone will have a "poor quality of life?" How can someone say this when the unborn child hasn't even had a chance to live their life? Every single life brings talent, joy, and beauty into the world. It is the people that we label as having "disabilities" or "defects" that are the ones that live life to the fullest and lead the most joyful lives. They are the people that make us realize what is truly important in life. They live their lives authentically as God created them to live. Additionally, no matter the circumstances, it is the duty of every parent to safely bring their child into the world and care for them. We have no right to decide who should live and should not live. That is the job of God alone because He is Author of all life. Abortion is tragic and devastating to the family and all of society. It destroys lives and relationships. It wounds all involved in it. Abortion takes away a life that would have changed the world.

All people deserve the chance to live. The right to life is the most basic human right. This right is given to all people by God. He is the Author and Creator of all good things. God wants all of His precious creatures to have the chance to know, love, and serve Him on earth so that they can earn the heavenly reward that He has created for them from all eternity. He wants them to have the chance to live so that they can know of the infinite love of their merciful Creator. God loved every life into existence and He loves every person personally and intimately. I hope that all people will see themselves and others, especially the unborn, as God sees them: unique one-of-a-kind creations, that are beloved by their Heavenly Father, and created to live upon this earth until He calls them back home to live forever in heaven.


​
Cailyn Bentler - Second Place (Tie) Senior Division
Grade 10 - Homeschool

A Beautiful Gift


Imagine being inside your mother's womb and what it would feel like. It would probably feel safe and familiar to you; you would feel cozy, warm, and secure. Now think about how you would want your parents to treat you; would you want your mother to take a pill that restricts your food and oxygen supply or have the abortionist rip you apart? No! You would want them to give you the chance to be born and live your life. Millions of children do not get this chance, and it is because people have allowed themselves to become desensitized to the evil of abortion. This is why we need to communicate the evil of abortion and promote a culture of life. These babies need help because they can't defend themselves from being murdered. We need to communicate to abortion-supporters that children are gifts from God and killing them is evil. We can do this by reaching out to these people in friendship, prayer, and trying to incorporate the value of human life in education.

People that support abortion think of pro-lifers as "the bad guys." They say that we are against women and that we are actually "pro-death." How are we supposed to communicate to these people, who have been blinded by evil, that we want to help them get on the right track? We can start by reaching out to them in friendships. Being friendly toward these abortion supporters will open doors for us to communicate with them. If we just suddenly approach them and tell them, "What you believe is wrong," we're not going to have a positive impact on them or cause them to even consider what we're saying. If we establish friendships with these people, we can begin to lead them toward the truth by example and explanation. They will be more likely to listen to someone who is a friend rather than an enemy.

I've spent time in prayer in front of an abortion clinic and it is definitely an eye-opening experience. I've witnessed people telling us "abortion is healthcare," cursing at us, and yelling whatever illogical insult they can think of. These people might resent our prayers and think that we are hurting rather than helping, but we need to keep praying with all our hearts, because there are babies dying right now, mothers being mentally scarred for life, and relationships being ruined because of the evil of abortion. We need to be brave and continue to pray for an end to abortion.

When I read about the different methods of abortion, I was utterly disturbed. I had to try really hard not to burst into tears when I realized how gruesome and obviously evil it is. I was shocked that anyone could ever perform such a thing, but so many people today would read what I read and block out the truth. So many couples decide to get abortions because they think  their baby is an inconvenience or they have been fooled to believe that it's not a baby at all and is just an object. They think that they have the freedom to do what they want with their bodies, but the thing inside the mother's womb is a separate human and has just as much right to live as anyone else. A human being's life should last from conception until natural death. Other humans shouldn't have a say in when a person's life ends. How can they say murdering an innocent child is a good thing? Schools are teaching it, and it is corrupting our country and our world. We need to incorporate a culture of life in schools and communities to communicate the evil of abortion to the youth.

To communicate the evil of abortion, we need to make ourselves approachable to those who think of us as the enemy. We have to pray with all our hearts that the truth will be accepted in our world, and we have to establish a culture of life in schools. Imagine coming out of your mother's womb, surrounded by light and love, and everyone saying you're so precious and beautiful. This is what we want for these unborn babies. We need to communicate that children are a beautiful gift from God.


Andrew Brown - Third Place (Tie) - Senior Division
Grade 9 - Homeschool
​

As a pro-life warrior, I pray for the dignity of every human life from conception to natural death and that this dignity many one day be recognized by all. The threats to the dignity of human life are numerous. Assisted suicide, abortion, infanticide, embryonic stem cell research, and euthanasia fail to recognize God's plan for human life. Therefore, being pro-life does not just mean defending the lives of babies, but to me, standing up for the most vulnerable and voiceless in the world is of upmost importance. Additionally, women struggle greatly before and after abortion.

According to the World Health Organization, "every year in the world there are an estimated 40 to 50 million abortions. This corresponds to approximately 125,000 abortions per day." Sadly, this statistic demonstrates the amount of people in desperate situations who need compassion, empathy, support, and the love of Christ. Women and their families need hope to know that there are life saving choices, rather than the culture of death that pushes on them.

According to Catherine Barnard's article, a major random study found that a minimum of 19% of post-abortion women suffer from diagnosable post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Approximately half had many, but not all, symptoms of PTSD, and 20 to 40 percent showed moderate to high levels of stress and avoidance behavior relative to their abortion experiences. Unfortunately, this is only one aspect of the negative effects of abortion. It causes me to wonder how many women risk their well-being for an abortion, especially when abortion is presented to women as a way to prevent a chronic life problem. It saddens me to know that nearly 1 in 4 (23.7%) women in the United States will have an abortion before the age of 45. (Guttmacher Institute). Abortion causes tremendous danger to women. Many women are wounded by abortion and need to be given compassion.

Even though the issue of abortion has yet to be resolved and still going on throughout the world, we cannot despair. Consequently, I find myself wondering what I can do to help promote a culture of life. The world presses down hard, and I feel like I cannot do anything about it. But what I can do is pray. Pray that abortion becomes unthinkable, pray for women and families, pray that the dignity of life is respected, and pray that compassionate resources for women provide healing in a world full of suffering.

Resources: 
  • World Health Organization www.who.int
  • Catherine Barnard, The Long-Term Psychological Effects of Abortion, Portsmouth, N.H.: Institute for Pregnancy Loss, 1990
  • Guttmacher Institute  www.guttmacher.org​
Caitlin Martin - Third Place (Tie) - Senior Division
Grade 9 - Regina Catholic Education Center

"For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, oracle of the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for woe, so as to give you a future of hope." Jeremiah 29:11


Every life matters; every life is important. From the moment of conception God gives each and everyone of us a soul, gifts, talents, personality traits, and character which are all irreplaceable! We are creations of God; people that He made in His own image and likeness, so harming others is hurting God. We cannot take the life of a person, a beautiful creation for which God made intricate plans.  When others do this, they are acting as God, who is the giver and taker of lives. By respecting God, we respect the lives of the beautiful people He has made. Every person was knit together by the very creator of the world.

Unfortunately, there are many ways that peoples' lives are intentionally taken, such as through abortion, euthanasia, infanticide and embryonic stem cell research. These actions unquestionably take innocent lives which is devastating in every circumstance. I also feel that these actions can portray human beings as more of an object, than the fruit of God's love. Because of this, I am pro-life, and I believe that these actions are wrong. I am pro-life because I believe everyone's life deserves respect, love, and care. I am pro-life because of the beautiful reason God made us, and because everyone who is created by God should be able to live on this earth until God calls them back to Him. I am pro-life out of love for God and His perfectly imperfect creations.

For all those who struggle with thoughts of abortion, euthanasia, infanticide, etc., turn to a caring person. There are many people who want to help you and care for you! There are many other options than what you may be considering. God's love and mercy is ever flowing out to all people, of all the places of the world.

"But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you." Jeremiah 1:5


Michael Bentler - First Place, Junior Division
Grade 7 - Homeschool

Let Us Fight

Abortion. One of the greatest evils in our world today. Almost 13 million abortions have taken place this year (Worldometer).
A massacre of innocents. Mothers and fathers have been corrupted to the point of killing their own children. Minds have been conditioned into thinking that murder is okay. What can we do? How can we help? What are we doing? How can we stop this so that these babies have a chance for life?

Saying "ignorance is bliss" isn't true. At least not for these babies. The will to know the truth in our modern society is diminishing. Without the will for a greater good, a will for truth, society will crumble. Many will jump at the sound of a new "convenience" no matter what the cost. They are content to beat their consciences into the ground and be content with their comfortable lies. Even I, who know the truth, fail to do God's will. We have an inner thirst for righteousness. Use it.

Yes, we try to be courageous, we try to do the right thing. We oppose evil and pray for those who commit it. We love God and try to do his bidding. But we often let fear overcome us and stand in the way of love and bravery and truth. Let us preach the love of God! Tell people the good news. Now is not the time to hide the Gospel, it is time to preach from the rooftops (Pope John Paul II). Let's get out there and save some people. What are we afraid of? Those babies are dying! What's worse than that?

Do we know our faith? How can you go and save babies and help people to see God if we can't see him clearly ourselves? We need to test our faith. Strengthen it. Prove it to ourselves. Look at the log in our own eyes rather than the splinter in our brothers. Although killing innocent babies hardly classifies as a splinter. More of a tree. However, if we want to make a difference we need to know how. We must grow closer to God. We must know, love, and serve him. For God is Truth. God is Love.

So, let's go out there and do whatever we can. Conquer our own ignorance and pay attention to this evil so that we can truly overcome it. Subjugate our fear and be brave in our faith. Hold the Truth with us. Know it and use it. In doing this, we will overcome the enemy. Crush the lies of Satan. We can help not only the babies, but their mothers and fathers, the people performing the abortions, and ourselves. Together, under God, we can make a difference. Let's go!

Resources:
Abortion statistics - Worldometer (worldometers.info)


Johnson County Right to Life
345 E. College St.
Iowa City, IA  52240
(319) 855-8475

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