God Bless Us, EVERY ONE

Our middle son and his wife are expecting their fifth child in April.  Recently, Preciosa had a second sonogram to check on the baby, since an earlier sonogram had shown that there might be a problem with one of the arteries connected to the placenta, meaning that the little one might not be getting all the nutrients he needs.  (I may not be describing the condition my daughter-in-law's OB/GYN was concerned about properly; but you get the gist.) 

I am happy to report that the arteries appear to be working perfectly, and this sweet baby, who will be grandchild #19 for his proud Papa and me, is doing just fine.

Do you want to see an absolutely precious little face?  (Don't bother to answer that question; I'm going to show you regardless!).

That beautiful face!  I love him already.

Incredibly--despite modern technology that can give us images like these, which are undeniable proof--there is still debate about when life begins and whether or not a baby growing in his mother's womb has an inviolable right to life. In recent news, abortion rights activists in Mississippi are panicking over a Supreme Court case that pro-lifers hope might lead to the overturning of Roe v. Wade.  (Dare one hope?!)  I think anyone who still believes that pre-born babies are somehow less human than they are after birth should have to look at sonogram photos like these. Hundreds of them. Because imagine still insisting, after seeing such images, that these vulnerable little souls are not fully human and deserving of protection.  It's inconceivable to me.

Our son and his wife already know that this sweet tiny person growing in the safety of his mama's womb is a boy, their second son.  Because there are only two sexes, male and female, and it can be scientifically determined even before birth which one a person is going to be.

A few years from now, God willing, this little fella will be a healthy, chubby-cheeked, round-bellied toddler visiting our house at Christmastime, and he'll be joining his cousins in checking out the ornaments on our tree with a look of wonder on his face.  But just because he isn't big enough to do that yet, just because he's still too small to be with us out here in the big, wide world, that doesn't mean that his life is any less valuable than the lives of the grandchildren we have who've already been born.

Photos from a recent visit with son #4's four little ones.

What better time than Advent, when we await the birth of the Baby Jesus, to cherish the lives of every single human person, from conception to natural death?  I submit that there is no better time.

God bless us, every one--no matter how small.