Morris Inch

The Gift of Life



Posted: Wednesday, July 29, 2009

by Morris Inch

The initial gift concerns life itself. My mother was past the age when persons as a rule give birth. Moreover, she was not in good health. Consequently, there was a high risk involved.

It appears that she never seriously considered aborting the fetus. In this regard, rabbinic tradition holds that three are involved in giving birth: God and the parents. While all have invested interests, God's concerns should take precedent.

It was a difficult deliverary. Mother continued to experience its adverse effects throughout the remainder of her life. She, nevertheless, felt that she had done the right thing. Years later, mother observed: "Morris, I can't recall that you ever did anything bad." Conversely, I could remember many things deserving of reprimand. I concluded that love has a short memory.

Americans celebrate life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Life is essential for the rest. One should cherish rather than despise it.

Scripture alerts us to the fact that life is essentially good. As for confirmation, "God saw all that he had made, and it was very good" (Gen. 1:31).

Life is also conditionally good, providing that we live it according to God's design. "Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night" (Psa. 1:1-2). Such resemble a tree planted by abundant water, that brings forth its fruit in season.

"Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away." They are without substance or permanence.

Whatever I have been able to accomplish in life is indebted not only to my mother's determination to give birth, but her subsequent loving care. Thank you mother for the gift of life.

Morris A. Inch is a Professor Emeritus of Biblical Studies, Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois. He is also a past president of the Institute of Holy Land Studies (renamed Jerusalem University College), Jerusalem, Israel. He was awarded an A.B. from Houghton College, M.Div. from Gordon Divinity School and Ph.D. from Boston University. He has authorded about forty books. See his publication website at http:www.ourchurch.com/member/p/publications

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