by Henry Piarrot

Created on: May 08, 2008   Last Updated: February 05, 2009

A Mother's Choice

"If we accept that a mother can kill even her own child, how can we tell other people to not kill each other? Any country that accepts abortion is not teaching its people to love, but to use any violence to get what they want." - Mother Teresa of Calcutta

In the spring of 1959, abortion was illegal in the US , but still very available for a frightened unmarried teenage mother interested in quietly solving her problem. However, as young Barbara Walker sat for her senior year portrait at Warren Easton High School in New Orleans , the notion of killing or even giving up her baby never crossed her mind. She did marry the boy who fathered her child, but he would not stay to share the responsibility of their action.

While most of her friends were preparing for college, or the jobs they were going to get now that they were out of school, Barbara was preparing for the baby that some told her would ultimately ruin her life. Nevertheless, in early December of that year, she held her son for the first time. Completely unprepared for parenthood, she promised her infant child that no matter how difficult, she would always be there for him.

As time passed, hardship and sacrifice defined nearly every day of their lives. A few years later, Barbara remarried. Then, once pregnant with her second child, her new husband quickly revealed his violent self and began to brutally beat her and her then 3 year old her son. Thankfully, with the help of family they were finally able to escape his rage. Again, she was on her own. Only now, she had 2 sons to provide for.

Time slows for no one and Barbara would be no exception. The unending days of work turned into weeks of worry as each new month brought new mental, physical and financial challenges. Eventually, nearly two decades of no less than two jobs and thousands of mornings that began at 5am finally took its toll on her health. Although, she loved her boys with all of her heart, she sometimes peeked back on the youthful dreams she traded for the futures of her children.

Married and with children of his own, her eldest son began to understand the sacrifices his mother had made for he and his brother. As his adult life took shape and success found his door more than once, he began to see himself as a poster child for abortion. After all, every justification for the practice paints a portrait of a poor child being born into a fatherless home, destined for a life of crime as a result of an angry and misguided youth. According to many, that is the person he was to become, and who wants to have a child like that? As he thought of how much easier his mother's life may have been had she made a different choice back in 1959, he wondered how many of the millions of children who were not given the chance to live, would actually have squandered the opportunity? He simply could not see himself as the only person allowed to be born into such a setting that would not become a burden to society.

Life is hard. Sometimes it is very hard. But, as long as you are alive, you have the chance to make something positive of it. For all of those who were not given a chance, or a choice, it would be interesting to see how many of their mothers actually fared better than Barbara in their own lives. Selflessness is also a choice and when it is inspired by love, it is rarely a poor decision.

Happy Mother's Day Mom Thanks for the life.

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