Today, the words that I'm writing are not going to be popular.
They are going to offend some, hurt others, and discredit my "cool factor" for many.
But if you are a fan of my work, you are more than likely a fan of women - women and their babies. You stick around because my work is more than pretty pictures, but stories that validate the day in and day out work of Motherhood.
Here's the thing - from the day I was conceived - there has been a death threat hanging over my head. As the multi-racial fetus living in my 15 year old, single mother's uterus, society pressured my mother to "spare me" a life of hardship. How could I survive a childhood in which I had no claim to a specific heritage? How would I have access to food and clothing and shelter on a parent with a high school education and a part time job?
Since adolescence I have struggled with depression and it seems as though the earthly powers that be would rather my light and witness be squelched under the pressures of this world, but today I boldly use my platform to ask you this - will you pray for life?
We live in a society where we will mourn the loss of an 8 week miscarriage but fight for a mother to have the right to kill her child.
We will lock men away for causing their pregnant partner to lose her baby but fight for a mother to have the right to kill her child.
We will hold rallies in the streets demanding circumcision to become illegal but fight for a mother to have the right to kill her child.
We will offer education, support, and medical attention for every pregnant woman and baby during labor and delivery but fight for a mother to have the right to kill her child.
We claim to be progressive in fighting for women's health but fight for a mother to have the right to kill her child - male or female.
On Monday, Congress will vote to defund Planned Parenthood, and I don't think that anything will come of it, but I do know that it is opening a conversation.
I cannot speak as someone who was raped, or someone who did not love her babies' father. But, at 19, it can be argued that I was not ready to have a baby. I was not ready the first time, I was not ready the second time, and I was in the most raw, exhausted state of my life the third time. But those of you who have followed me, those of you who know me, what do you say to me on a weekly basis? Your children are so beautiful. Those girls are so smart. Your little ladies are hysterical. But according to our culture, I had every right to kill them.
They are hard to deal with, expensive, and a burden to any selfish plans I have.
And they are 3 of 4 of the most important people in my life.
But some of you want to fight for my right as their mother to kill them.
Some of you say our country's money should go to supporting my right to kill them.
I survived that horrible thinking, and YES my childhood was hard, but would I - ME A WOMAN RIGHT NOW - have rather lived a hard life OR BE KILLED?! As someone who suffers from deep depression who is faced with this choice often - I WOULD RATHER LIVE.
I would rather our country's money be placed into programs that help support my mama.
I would like to see our Church stand up, kneel down, and come along side those of us who were not, are not, will not be ready to carry this title of "Mama."
Some of you who fight for a mother to have the right to kill her baby tell me
"You are beautiful."
"You are strong."
"You are funny."
"You are wise."
and if the people surrounding my mother fought harder to "educate" her on her right to kill me - you would never know this beautiful, strong, funny and wise woman.
So I ask you to pray, get down on your knees, lift up your voice and cry out that life be made a priority in our country. Life for the smallest heartbeat, and for the mother that carries it.
