There is much discussion today about abortion. Some are crying that women have the right to kill their unborn children while others declare the unborn have every right to live. And, while I stand with the latter mindset I think it important to point out the fact that the unborn child is indeed human. Moreover, God made it clear that He knew His children even before conception. And, while this verse is specific to Jeremiah it lends to the idea of the all-knowing God knowing His children even before the parents know them. Hence, Jeremiah 1:5 – Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

     I have no intention of exegeting this passage in this paper except to point out the absolute value of those God formed in the womb. With that, God formed you in that He created you for such a time as this because you are needed for specific work and purpose. And, I am so glad you were not aborted. God ordained you to pour into me and without you, I would not be. Yes, you are precious and fearfully and wonderfully made. Yes, God knew you would pour into me and many others. So, He created you and I am so glad you were not aborted.

     Let me explain. Many people (I don’t know how many) have poured into me and have caused me to be who I am today. I will start with my parents Robert and Thelma Carter (and there are many more before them) God used them as tools to create me. Without these two I would not be here arguing for life. Both of my parents poured into me and the residue of them remains in me and cannot be removed. Yes, I am grateful they were not aborted. Then, I cannot overlook my grandparents, all of them. One of them, in particular, is my maternal grandfather, the late Rev. William James Smith. Yes, I was named after this pastour. Who knew that I would, too, be a pastour. God did.

     I cannot possibly enumerate all that have poured into me. I am just so glad that none of you were aborted. This includes my siblings. I have four from my mother and others from my father, well; fathered. Suffice it to say we still “fight” each other. It is what we do. We love each other and I am grateful they were not aborted. No, they were not and each of them has poured into me in ways I cannot expound upon here. Nonetheless, I am so glad they were not aborted. Yet, family and friends are not the only ones for which I am so glad were not aborted. There are many others. Consider the doctors and nurses at the time of my birth. How about the many professionals I have encountered since. Teachers – there were many teachers.

    Miss Kidd was my first-grade teacher about fifty-five years ago. Yes, she poured into me and gave me the love of reading. Mr. Williams (sixth grade) furthered that love. My junior high band teacher and English teacher also poured into me. And then there was high school. So many unaborted people poured into me and I am so very glad none of these precious people were aborted.

     The Marine Corps. There were many in the Corps who poured into me. My drill instructors stand out. I am so glad they were not aborted. And then my instructors in admin school. My goodness; the list is way too long for me to begin to scratch the surface. However, I can’t ignore MGSgt. Thomas James Witt. He went out of his way to pour into me. He is now receiving his reward. I am so glad he was not aborted. I am also grateful for my college professors. I can’t even call all their names so I won’t even start to try. And, if you consider the idea of about fourteen years of college you will begin to understand the magnitude of people who have poured into which includes many who might be considered peripheral. I am so glad none of them were aborted.

     My children. My goodness, my children. They may not realize the impact they have had on my life. Yet, it is absolutely certain each of my four children has and continues to pour into my life. I am so glad they were not aborted. Again, I cannot enumerate the fullness of all this. Still, I would be remiss if I ignored the most significant person in my life; Christ Jesus.

     The fact Jesus, before becoming incarnate, looked down through the annals of time and saw I would be in need of redemption. So, He took off His robe of glory and cloaked himself in the flesh of man. He suffered, died, and rose from the dead just to make sure I have the chance of honouring the Father with my life so that I could have eternal life. I am so glad He was not aborted and am so glad you were not aborted.