Tuesday, June 2, 2009

The "Death with Dignity" Issue

I blogged this to a KitsapSun.com blog discussion earlier this evening regarding the "Death with Dignity" debate...


Such a situation would be amongst my worst nightmares. Yet, who would or could say “no” to being there with a loved one or close friend who asked you to be there? Frankly, I’d have a very difficult time saying “no” to a stranger who made that request, let alone a loved one.

I’m trying very hard to avoid judgment because I know that perspective sometimes changes when one is, by circumstance, faced with a situation that seems so clear-cut from afar, but is so much more complicated when you are in the midst it.

Thus, my post tonight isn’t to provide some great wisdom on the issue. It is simply an observation that judging anyone either way on this issue is no one’s role but God’s.

My pregnancy with my first child was complicated and required medical attention from the get go. At six weeks gestation, we had our first ultrasound and at that moment… in that moment… I fell in love with her. Until that moment, I had a position on abortion. But from that moment forward, it was as if God spoke directly to my heart and settled any question of what was right and wrong for me on the abortion issue.

I pray that God grants me the grace to never have to face a “death with dignity” situation with my family. And yet, should that ever happen, all I can hope for is that God speaks to my heart to know what to do, just as He spoke to my heart the day I first laid eyes on that little embryo… who is going to be a senior in high school in 4 days….

There are many things in this world that I take a strong position about. But there are some things that we will only understand when God, in our moment of need, speaks to our heart and settles the question.


Regards,
Kathryn Simpson