Sunday, January 22nd, 2012
“I wasn’t born”
Life with Talitha — part 5
As long as I have a memory, I will know what date it was that Talitha learned what a birth mother is.
On a bitter, freezing January 22–in 2001–we stood with thousands of others outside the Minnesota Capitol, rallying for Life.
Talitha pointed to the line drawing on a poster raised high in the distance. “Look, there’s a picture of a baby being born–like baby Elizabeth!” I could see it was really a sketch of a partial birth abortion, but she didn’t need to know yet the horrors of that.
So I picked up the flow of her thought. “Yes, like your little friend. And like you.”
She quickly corrected me, “I wasn’t born. I was adopted.”
I had been thinking for a while it was time to expect questions from Talitha about her birth. Adoption was an everyday word and concept in our family, but we hadn’t yet talked about one very important person to whom we owe great gratitude.
Question or no, now was the time. And so on the stately steps of the capitol, I stooped to look into her eyes. “Talitha, first you were born and then you were adopted.” I explained that she had grown inside another woman–her birth mother–who could have chosen abortion, but instead protected her and gave birth to her.
Talitha carried home a “Choose Life” poster and put it in her bedroom window.
Today I thank God for the woman who gave birth to our beloved Talitha.
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For many of us, being pro-life has changed our families through adoption. A couple of years ago I wrote a series of blog posts telling our adoption story. It begins here.
A follow-up series, Life with Talitha, begins here.
Sunday, January 22nd, 2012
Mourning God knows who
Today I am thinking of only-God-knows-how-many people whose names only God knows. Maybe 52 million?
The oldest of our 5 children was born just 3 months before the US Supreme Court’s Roe versus Wade decision which was delivered on January 22, 1973. That means that those millions of babies — people — killed over the last 39 years are the peers of all my children. Only God knows which of them might potentially have been their playmates, classmates, work partners.
In a few minutes I’ll be gathering with other worshippers at Bethlehem’s south campus to hear my husband’s message to us on this heartbreaking anniversary.
I hope this day might be different than other Sundays for you. Perhaps you might:
- be gathering with others to let your presence proclaim your honoring of the sanctity of human life (For Minnesotans, it’s 2 pm at the State Capitol).
- take time to pray with compassion for mothers who are considering abortion right now and for God’s peace to to be understood and accepted in the hearts of men and women who have been responsible for an abortion.
- remember that no sin is too great for God to forgive. Jesus paid for it already for you or anyone who turns to him with faith.
- read the short booklet about abortion, free at the Desiring God websit
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May God bless this day to you for his sake among the babies–for the sake of the great name of the creator of all human beings.
Saturday, January 14th, 2012
Why I want to know more
Skip on over to Tell Me When to Pack to see part 1 of the video of my presentation last week about my Esther Expedition to China, coming up in March.
Wednesday, January 11th, 2012
Monday, January 9th, 2012
Y’all come! Y’all come!
Y’all come!
That’s American Southern for Everybody’s welcome, and we want to see you!” I just got home from Georgia, the place where I learned my “heart” language all those years ago.
Now I’m turning my eyes and heart toward China, and I’m saying it twice because I’m inviting you twice. I hope I’ll see you two times this week.
Invitation 1: Tomorrow night
Bethlehem to China: A Journey
Presented by Noel Piper and Joann Pittman
Tuesday, January 10
7:00-9:00 pm
Bethlehem Baptist Church, Downtown Campus
Invitation 2: Thursday evening
My Literary Journey to being a Sinophile
Presented by Joann Pittman
Thursday, January 12
7:00 pm
Ramsey County Library Community Room, 2180 Hamline, Roseville, MN
Spread the word!
All y’all come and bring your family and friends. Joann and I are looking forward to seeing you.
Thursday, January 5th, 2012
You’re invited
(If you’re following Tell Me When to Pack, please forgive this duplication, but I want to make sure lots of friends get our invitation for Tuesday.)
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It’s not that long ago when I was thinking, “Can I really spend a month in China? Is this a crazy idea?” Right at that time, no kidding, this was my fortune at Lee Ann Chin (don’t tell Joann, but that’s my family’s favorite “Chinese” place to eat).
I don’t want you to think that the paths of my life are guided by fortune cookies, but yes, my tickets now are booked.
Joann and I are thankful to all of you who are following with interest our Esther expedition. We’re getting together to talk about our trip and hope you can join us. We’ll have pictures and stories and maybe some goodies too.
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Bethlehem to China: A Journey
Downtown Campus, Room 114
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
7:00pm - 9:00pm
In the late 1920’s, a young woman departed Bethlehem for southwest China, where she worked as a nurse and teacher until 1951. Esther’s story rests in her letters, and it’s a story waiting to be discovered and told.
In March 2012, Noel Piper and Global Partner Joann Pittman will travel to China to trace the life and legacy of Esther. They’ll be seeking the land and people that captured Esther’s heart, traveling to the towns and villages where she served, hopefully even finding people who remember her.
You are invited to hear Noel and Joann talk about their upcoming “Esther Expedition” on Tuesday, January 10, at 7:00pm at the Downtown Campus.
RSVP isn’t required, but we’d love to know if you’re coming. You can do that by commenting here or by using the Contact link above–also if you have any questions.
Monday, December 26th, 2011
Christmas week
May you too find some lovely goodies to dip into
For us, this is a week of celebrating the birth of our Saviour with family–lots of family. Yesterday it was with my mother and with our son Barnabas and his family. Today a bunch of my siblings and their families descend. That means lots of food and visiting and cousins reconnecting.
So blogging may be sparse for a few days. I pray that your own Jesus celebration may stretch out in some way through these days.
Sunday, December 25th, 2011
Christmas Reading 2011
Galatians 4:4-7
In the fullness of time, the Christ was born so we can be adopted.
When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.
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Saturday, December 24th, 2011
Advent reading, Saturday, December 24, 2011
Matthew 2:12-15
An angel warns the wise men and Joseph.
12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.
13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” 14 And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”
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(Daily Advent readings adapted from those originally compiled at Parish Presbyterian Church, references listed at this website .)
Friday, December 23rd, 2011
Advent reading: Friday, December 23, 2011
Matthew 2:1-11
The wise men follow the star to the baby.
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:
6 “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” 9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.
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(Daily Advent readings adapted from those originally compiled at Parish Presbyterian Church, references listed at this website .)
Thursday, December 22nd, 2011
When Joy to the World isn’t our world
You don’t have to live many Christmases before you realize that the emotions of Christmas are not all joy. In fact, some years we may wonder if joy will ever come again.
I’m thinking about that reality now, after hearing from some people who are suffering right now. The causes are quite different, but for all of them, Christmas as they’ve known it seems like another planet.
That makes me want to put it down in stark black and white: Christmas can be hard, really hard, unbearably hard–all the more when we look around at all the jolliness and feel like we’re alone in our grief or pain or loneliness or uncertainty or fear or hopelessness or confusion or alienation or . . . .
A few years ago, I wrote to a friend whose child had come through a crisis not long before Christmas.
I realize that it doesn’t resolve your situation to hear that you’re not alone. But I pray it might help lighten the burden at least a little to see what some others have to say, people who are in your shoes now or they have been there.
These articles are in no particular order and are from from various perspectives. I think it will be quite possible as you read to substitute your own challenges or the struggles of a person you love.
When Christmas Stinks, by Michael Monroe
Joy (and Grief) and Joy at Christmas, by Molly Piper
The angels’ words were a battle cry, by Joni Eareckson Tada
FAS and Christmas, by Julie Martindale
“Suffering is the reason for the season,” Charles Colson
White Elephant: Explain that to an FASD Kiddo, by Barb Clark
He Says There’s Something Worse than Death, by John Knight (poem by John Piper)
God Uses Silly Videos to Make Much of Himself, by John Knight
The Most Important Posting I Will Ever Write . . . & a Christmas Greeting, by Mike Evans
Home for Christmas, by Greg Lucas
Together on the Ledge, by Lisa Qualls
A request to you: Please share with us resources that have helped you in your difficult times.
Thursday, December 22nd, 2011
Advent Reading: Thursday, December 22, 2011
Luke 2:15-20
The shepherds go to the manger.
When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
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(Daily Advent readings adapted from those originally compiled at Parish Presbyterian Church, references listed at this website .)
