“I see perfection”

I heard about this touching story over the weekend. Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin gave birth to her 5th child, a son, Trig Paxon Van Palin, who was diagnosed with Down Syndrome during Palin’s pregnancy.

“I’m looking at him right now, and I see perfection,” Palin said. “Yeah, he has an extra chromosome. I keep thinking, in our world, what is normal and what is perfect?”

Amen.

But unfortunately, most parents do not share her sentiments, and sadly most will not choose life for their child. Over 90% of Down Syndrome children are diagnosed prenatally and then aborted, over 90%! Is this because parents think they have the “right” to a healthy child? Or is it because they are afraid to really love?

As a mother who has personally faced a very devastating prenatal diagnosis, I know the fear that comes when a doctor tells you the “bad news.” The fear is literally overwhelming. It takes every ounce of energy just to breath, and the thought of giving more, of really loving, can seem impossible.

But with grace all things are possible.

I applaud the Palin’s in their courage to not only love their baby boy, but in their courage to open themselves up to the public, and give our very broken and messed up world a beautiful example of God’s love. It comes at a time when we really need it. I only wish more of our public figures could do the same.