Saturday, Jan. 22 is the anniversary of the historic Roe vs. Wade decision handed down by the Supreme Court in 1973. This decision made abortion legal in this country.

It was a decision that rocked my world. I was a couple weeks shy of my 21st birthday and engaged to be married in August of that year. My main vocation in life was to be a mother and work to be the best mother I could be. I could not begin to fathom the idea of purposely taking the life of an unborn baby.

Along the way, I was blessed with four relatively healthy babies. I carried a fifth child, next to my heart like all the others, but, this time, the baby did not survive. I know that pain. I would guess it is not the same as having an abortion as it was not my choice, but it was a great loss to me.

I realize that not all women are called to be mothers, but I believe the decision is made at the time of agreeing to partake in intercourse, not after the baby is conceived, with the obvious exceptions of rape and incest.

Even in the cases of rape and incest, all steps should be taken to ensure the rights of the unborn child (girl or boy) to life, and support needs to be provided for the woman who has had these horrific crimes committed against her. If our country has failed us in any way, it would be through not supporting vulnerable women through these types of challenges soon enough (pre-1973). Carrying the baby through the pregnancy and then adopting the baby to a couple who will raise the baby with love is a selfless, positive solution. It is not the solution for everyone, but is one to consider.

I am so sad for those who have been raped either by stranger or family member. My heart goes out to those who must suffer such horrific emotional pain. I can think of all kinds of creative ways those perpetrators could be held accountable for their actions, but none of them includes killing them.

Life is to be respected at all levels from conception to natural death. That is my personal belief and one that I live: financially, through my writing, peacefully praying outside of abortion facilities, donating money and supplies to St. Gianna Home for mothers in Warsaw, ND, and exercising my right to vote. I can’t change the Supreme Court Decision made on that fateful day in 1973, but I can live my life true to my belief.

I abhor the killing of abortion doctors. The killing of doctors and others who perform abortions goes against my core belief and certainly is not respecting life. Two wrongs do not make a right.

I try to listen respectfully to all points of view on the subject as everyone in this great country has a right to their own opinions. It is always good to learn.

I knew this was a controversial topic when I began writing it. There are strong opinions on all sides of the issue. My intention is not to offend anyone, but to state my opinion firmly as it is something I feel very strongly about.