It’s about Compassion

Last updated on: July 1, 2013 at 5:08 am by Libby Anne

It’s about Compassion 2013-06-29T16:18:44-04:00 Libby Anne

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Compassion. For me, being pro-choice is about having compassion. This is one thing my time spent volunteering as an escort at Planned Parenthood each week has really impressed on me. Every woman is an individual with her own story, and every woman deserves compassion and access to the tools she needs to build her life as best she can.

The other week I stood by a car as a woman crouched behind it, begging for a way into the clinic that didn’t involve having to walk by the yelling protesters. We told her that they couldn’t get near her, and could only yell, but that was still too much. Finally she walked between us into the clinic as the protesters yelled at her, and by the time she got inside she was so overcome that she almost broke down sobbing. Did I mention that she wasn’t there for herself? It was her teenage daughter at her side that she was there for. She was trying so hard to be strong.

Compassion. It’s about hugging those who are crying and helping those in need. It’s about extending an arm to the hurting and a lifeline to those who are falling. It’s about affirming every woman’s dignity to make her own decisions and forge her own life. It’s about being there for her. I often talk with the other escorts—there are always two of us, though just who it is changes—and I’m amazed by how many of them are active in other social justice work. Several of them also volunteer at the local women’s shelter.

This past week, as I walked one woman in, one of the protesters yelled “Don’t kill your baby! There is hope!” The woman laughed bitterly and responded by saying “No there isn’t.” Women who come to Planned Parenthood for abortions are often in the middle of trying circumstances. They have a job that doesn’t make allowances for pregnancy, they are already struggling to get out of poverty, they want to be able to give adequate time to the children they already have, they weren’t able to get the long term contraception they wanted because they don’t have health insurance, and on and on it goes. Every woman’s story is individual, and some women come to the decision to abort easily, and for others it’s difficult and complicated.

For me, being pro-choice is more than just a single issue. It’s not just about abortion rights, or about contraception, or about a social safety net. It’s something much bigger. It’s about putting an arm around the hopeless and offering help to those who need it. It’s about hoping for a better world, one with not only reproductive justice but also economic justice. It’s about wanting every child to grow up healthy, happy, and loved. It’s about reaching up, about embracing possibility, and about dreaming of something more. And, it’s about compassion.

Feminism

Social Justice

abortion

Previous Post

June 30, 2013

Judaism 101: Humans' Nature and Sin

Next Post

July 2, 2013 True Womanhood: Get Abused, Win a Crown!

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Atheism Evangelicalism/Fundamentalism Family Feminism Homeschool Meta Parenting Patriarchy Politics Purity Quiverfull Social Justice Uncategorized Worthwhile reads

Select a Month February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver?

Select your answer to see how you score.

James Simon Peter John Judas Iscariot