Every Child Is A Gift

On May 20, 1996, our special needs daughter Hannah Faith McNeese was born. Several months earlier, a level two sonogram revealed serious problems with the baby my wife Holly was carrying. The predictions were dire: our daughter might be born with spina bifida, she might be blind, she might not survive the birth process. One doctor strongly suggested abortion, citing the multiple challenges our baby might have.

Holly and I were burdened with the prospect of a child that might have serious issues. But thanks to the grace of God, we never considered abortion. Instead, while it was painful to anticipate the difficulties that lay ahead, we chose to keep our baby.

Sadly, our culture typically has a cavalier attitude toward the sanctity of life. Millions of children are killed each year in the United States, where a woman’s ‘right to choose’ is enshrined. The taking of these human lives is a tragedy beyond describing. Every child is made in the image of God, irrespective of the physical or mental disabilities he or she may have.

I am so thankful we did not abort Hannah. She is God’s beautiful child. She is a gift from His hand. She is an enormous blessing (along with presenting some major challenges) to us and to our whole church family. She makes us laugh every day and reminds us of God’s concern for the weak and helpless!