Be a Hero

From the desk of Joanna Schaper, AGM Staff Writer

superdad

 

My family just took a road trip visit both of my husband’s grandmothers. It is a trip we have wanted to take for some time to visit his maternal grandma who actually lives there, but when we found out his paternal grandma was flying in from the west coast to see her siblings and their families, we knew we had to take advantage of the opportunity of close distances to introduce our newest baby who is now 4 months old.

We drove through north Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, and Illinois. I found myself renewed with the fire for life as I started noticing one in 10 billboards we passed had a pro-life message to share along the highways we drove. Lots of encouragement to choose life — adoption if necessary, reassurance that there are positive choices that can be made without judgement, contact info to reach various groups of people who want to help frightened or nervous new mothers, and websites and phone numbers for mothers seeking healing post-abortion. And, would you believe, there was even signs expressing support for fathers as well.

I was excited to see this as we travelled the midwest, but what probably impacted me the most was the signs for fathers.

I think it is all too often we forget that there are just as many cases of lost fatherhood as there is of lost motherhood. Theirs is a voice we don’t hear very often in the sad murder of children. True, it may be due to the fact that men are far more internal in how they deal with things. But that doesn’t mean they aren’t hurt in this shameful crime as well. Albeit only mental and spiritual unlike the added physical trauma women face and carry forever. And, perhaps more often than not, due to his feelings of insecurity or inability to be a dad, fathers are pushing factors in mothers going in to have their baby be slaughtered.

Or, what about the men who weren’t given the chance to be a father because a woman was too frightened to carry their child to term? Even if some men felt in their heart they may not be ready to be a dad, he most likely has a family member or friend who desperately wants a child to adopt and love.

Men, if you search yourself deeply and honestly, you would agree that you were probably put here to work hard, provide for, and protect your family. Even if a family comes along before you think you are ready for it. There is a part of you (that may be small at the time due to selfish human nature, but it’s there!) that instinctively wants to protect your helpless little offspring. Rise to the occasion and be somebody amazing in your child’s life.

Men love to be heroes, especially where little kids are concerned. However, if this is a job you don’t care to take on, no matter the reason(s), work with your baby’s mother and find a couple who is aching for babies to adopt and love. The greatest gift, and act of heroism, you can give, as mother and as a father, is your “Yes!” to life. Whether you assume the role of all the beautiful hard work that comes with the job or you choose an alternative.

As I watch my husband with our children, I know there is no measure to put on his love for each of them. Even after the longest, hardest day of work, he is still ready to set aside his day to embrace them and hear all the silliness that their little days were made of. As his wife and our kids’ mother, it is nothing short of overflowing love in my heart to see these little moments unfold.

They don’t care how much money he makes or how much house we have or how new our vehicles are. He is their hero because he can toss them in the air. He is their hero because he can throw a football real far and catch a baseball every time it’s tossed to him. He is their hero because he knows about cars, carpentry, sports, and paper airplanes. He gets down on their level and brings so much to life for them with the stories he tells.

If you are a man suffering as a result of an abortion, whether you directly had a hand in it or not, there are resources available to you. Don’t let mistakes from your past prevent an amazing future. And, don’t let the negative influences in your life define who you can be. You’re never too young or too old to be a hero-dad, hero-grandpa, hero-uncle, hero-brother, hero-nephew, hero-cousin, or hero-friend.

6 Comments On “Be a Hero”

  1. THANK YOU Ms. Joanna. I’ve never spoken of this but I was a young & very dumb boyfriend of a girl who made the horribly wrong decision. I thought it wasn’t “my place” to interfere with her decision. And because of my IGNORANCE I will always suffer the DEEP regret of lost fatherhood.

    At AGM’s Mass For Life, in the Prayer Intentions, the men of lost fatherhood is always mentioned. That shook me to my core when I first heard that — and always will. Knowing that we DO have a voice and we SHOULD lovingly use it in defense of our baby has made me a stronger man. God bless you and the mighty work of AGM.
    With respect & gratitude, a forever grieving “dad.”

  2. Right, let’s never forget the Dad’s who either gave up or were deprived unknowingly of the privelege of fatherhood. God bless the men!

  3. Your comment touched me very deeply, thank you for sharing it.

    God bless you, Dan, and your found heroic strength! I’m sorry for your loss, but am grateful for your stand and determination for life now in the present! 🙂

  4. Beautiful article Joanna! I forwarded to your parents; they should be very proud of you. Please say hi to the munchkins for me God bless John Ryan

  5. Beautiful article.
    Beautiful daughter-in-law.

  6. Joanna, Thank you for saying what so many of us hold in our hearts and minds, but can’t find the right words to share it. Thank you for being here for us at AGM. We are greatly appreciative of your time, talent and passion for LIFE.

Comments are closed.