by Elise Ellsworth
January 17, 2016 marks the thirty-third anniversary of a unique holiday – Sanctity of Human Life Day. This now almost-forgotten holiday, always falling on the third Sunday of January, was originally designated by President Ronald Reagan to coincide with another important day in the history of our nation – January 22nd – the day when the Supreme Court issued the landmark decision Roe v. Wade.
Interesting timing for the Supreme Court – less than a month after the nation had finished its greatest celebration. A celebration reverencing an innocent and helpless infant. An infant who was welcomed and loved although the circumstances were less than perfect. An infant whose greatest worth lay in his potential to someday become a force for happiness, a force for love and a force for the continuation of life itself. It is Christmas and the man for whom it is named taught us that every life is something to treasure, something to honor, and something worthy of our greatest sacrifice. Some might call Christmas the world’s greatest celebration of the sanctity of life.
Less than a month after Christmas came Roe v. Wade. Roe v. Wade marked the beginning of a new era of self-gratification at the expense of family unity. At the beginning of 2015 there had been an estimated 57,762,169 abortions performed in the world since the Roe v. Wade. By the end of next year the number could well be 60 million. 60 million human lives extinguished. 60 million lives that will never live, never breathe, never laugh, never love. 60 million human lives cut short because they were less than perfect or made someone else’s life a little too difficult.
So this year after the Christmas celebrations have died down, make room for another holiday– January 17th Sancity of Human Life Day. Take time to speak out for life. Take time to teach your children. Take time to ponder. Do what you can to see that another life has the chance to matter.