My heart grieves

In yesterday's Sunday Times, was an innocuously titled article "Graves with No Names".
(http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_420289.html)

It reported on abortion statistics in Singapore - an astounding 30 abortions a day, 12,222 abortions in 2007. This almost beggars belief, and reading the story made my heart ache so for the little ones who were never given a chance to come into being.

Little G is due to arrive anytime now, and I'm trying to enjoy having him inside me for just a few more days. Even though this is my second pregnancy, the wonder of having a life grow inside me, and being able to feel him move his little limbs, and seeing his hiccups translate to bumpety bumps on my tummy is something I will never quite learn to take for granted.

So it is in that context that I found my tears falling for the many many little ones whose mothers are just not ready for them, as I read the story. A 27-year-old who was interviewed had just aborted a 16-week old foetus and was asked if she intended to claim the foetus from the hospital. It seems that in Singapore, an aborted foetus before 24-weeks old could simply be left to the disposal of the hospitals. So she said why would she when all she wanted to do was to get on with the rest of her life.

One day, I thought to myself, her past will catch up with her.

Maybe one day when she is ready to be mom, and has found the right guy who can be a good father, she'll experience the joy of a full term 40-week pregnancy and witness her own transformation into a mother, and realize what a colossal mistake she's made before.

On that day, she'll remember her unborn babe and wonder what it would feel like to hold him/ her in her arms, and be the mother that she chose not to be once upon a time.

I offer a silent prayer for all unborn babes and their mothers for whom I can only pray for redemption and forgiveness. These lyrics seem to sum it all up:

I've Never Been To Me
( Charlene )

Hey lady, you lady, cursing at your life
You're a discontented mother and a regimented wife
I've no doubt you dream about the things you'll never do
But, I wish someone had talked to me
Like I wanna talk to you.....

Oh, I've been to Georgia and California and anywhere I could run
I took the hand of a preacher man and we made love in the sun
But I ran out of places and friendly faces because I had to be free
I've been to paradise but I've never been to me

Please lady, please lady, don't just walk away
'Cause I have this need to tell you why I'm all alone today
I can see so much of me still living in your eyes
Won't you share a part of a weary heart that has lived million lies....

Oh, I've been to Niece and the Isle of Greece while I've sipped champagne on a yacht
I've moved like Harlow in Monte Carlo and showed 'em what I've got
I've been undressed by kings and I've seen some things that a woman ain't supposed to see
I've been to paradise, but I've never been to me

[spoken]
Hey, you know what paradise is?
It's a lie, a fantasy we create about people and places as we'd like them to be
But you know what truth is?
It's that little baby you're holding, it's that man you fought with this morning
The same one you're going to make love with tonight
That's truth, that's love......

Sometimes I've been to crying for unborn children that might have made me complete
But I took the sweet life, I never knew I'd be bitter from the sweet
I've spent my life exploring the subtle whoring that costs too much to be free
Hey lady......
I've been to paradise, (I've been to paradise)
But I've never been to me

(I've been to Georgia and California, and anywhere I could run)
I've been to paradise, never been to me
(I've been to Neice and the isle of Greece while I've sipped champagne on a yacht)
I've been to paradise, never been to me
(I've been to cryin' for unborn children that might have made me complete)
I've been to paradise, never been to me
(I've been to Georgia and California, and anywhere I could run)
I've been to paradise, never been to me