Pro-life vs. pro-choice has become one of the biggest debates in our society. What once was not even an option is now something that people all over the nation dispute. At this point, you cannot even stereotype who is pro-life or pro-choice by their religious or political standpoint. While there was a time that most Christians identified themselves as pro-life, you know see a growing number of those who are pro-choice! I believe that both sides of the argument should be able to make their cases regardless of what one's stance is, and I ask that those reading this would be able to digest and process my opinion with an open mind.

I am alive today because of pro-life.

And I thank the Lord everyday that I have a mom who chose to give me life.

The most common heard "what if" questions of those who are pro choice that I hear are: "What if it's a rape case?" "What if she's young and not ready to be a mom?" "What if having a baby could be detrimental to the mother's health?" "What if she can never have a job or a life because she now has a child to take care of?"

I feel that these "what if's" can all be answered with my own personal story.

My mom was 21 when she got pregnant with me. Uncertainty, excitement, fear, futuristic thinking, and insecurity can only scratch the surface of some emotions that she must of been feeling the day she found out. I can't imagine the thousands upon thousands of thoughts that ran through her head, nor can I imagine the courage it must have taken to tell others. From what she has told me, I do not think there were any who shamed or shunned her after they found out, but there were those who mentioned that an abortion was an option. Some even encouraged it.

From a pro-choice perspective, I can see where their encouragement could be coming from. She was young and had her whole life ahead of her, so why let something get in the way of her potential future? But what they didn't see was that a baby was not something that would ruin the course of her life, but one that would just change it.

My mom chose to let me live.

And she frequently tells me that no matter the circumstance from which I came from, I am one of the biggest blessings she has ever, and will ever receive. I have said before that I love the life that I have been given, and I believe that God has a big plan for me. I also believe that God has a plan for every single baby beginning at conception. I impacted my mother's life long before she heard me cry for the first time. Her choice has let me live a beautiful and adventurous life, and I have so much more to see and experience! I come into contact with people everyday that I get to laugh, cry, and share my story with. For those who have met me personally, just imagine for a second of what it would be like to have never have known me? (Now that may be a depressing thought, but it is something to consider when you think about the thousands of potential lives that are taken away every single day).

Now let me set something straight. I by no means hate anyone who is pro-choice, nor do I hate those who are gay, bisexual, transgender, etc. Just because I have a different opinion from someone does not mean that I have any right to be prejudice, angry, or rude to those who I may not agree with. I was made from love, kept alive by love, have only ever been given love, and will therefore only give love.

But if you are pro-choice, I just want to tell you that I am a living example of someone who, by the worlds standards, could of had an abortion, but chose not to do so. When I hear people talk about how they agree that women should be able to have abortion for circumstance and situational reasons, I follow up with the question,

"Do you think my mom should of given me up just because of her circumstance?"