Choose Life.

My very life exists because of a brave young girl who made a hard decision to carry me, and then to give me life through adoption.

I am forever grateful for her decision, and it is not lost on me the fear and emotion and sacrifice that was a part of that decision...when her plans as a high-schooler were turned upside down with my pregnancy.

...a bravery and sacrifice I will never understand or even try to. Just one I am thankful for.

To see the valedictorian speech from my own high school going viral right now (you can google it if you want)...spoken with such disdain for life in the womb, and describe an unexpected pregnancy as a thwarting of hopes and dreams and aspirations and efforts for a future ... yes, it’s gut wrenching on so many levels.

And really? It’s just not true. It doesn’t have to be. There is another way than what she is fighting for. I’m living proof.

I sat in that very graduation for that very high school 20 years ago this year.

I sat there as an unplanned, adopted child about to pursue my own dreams and live the rest of my own life...because of the choice my birth mom made.

Life over death.

Was I an interruption to her life as a young girl? For sure. I can’t imagine that and I won’t try to understand it.

But I know what is on the other side of the hard choice she made. Because it’s me. And now it’s my kids.

My heart is heavier than it has been in a while seeing this, and I know everyone has different opinions. I am strong in mine too. I’m not here to debate.

I am here to simply say “Hi! Hello! I literally exist because instead of living in fear of how an unexpected pregnancy would mess up her life, my birth mother GAVE me life.”

There is absolutely no argument to this. It’s my story.

To fear the loss of hopes and dreams and aspirations and efforts for a future? Quite opposite...I was given life instead of seen as a forever hindrance. We both got life actually.

She fought a war for her daughter that didn’t involve death.

And one of the most beautiful parts? I now have a relationship with that brave woman who gave me life and it is beautifully redemptive.

We all deserve a chance to live and have a story.