It is my annual tradition to write a letter to the editor of our local newspaper at the time of the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the January 22, 1973 Supreme Court decision that ushered in the era of legalized abortion in our country.

This year my letter took the form of a tribute to Dr. Jean Garton, who died last month. Dr. Garton was one of the founders of Lutherans for Life (lutheransforlife.org) and one of the most energetic and eloquent advocates for unborn children. She will be missed but the drive to restore legal protection to unborn children must continue. Here is what I wrote:

The unborn children of this country lost an energetic and eloquent advocate with the death last month of Dr. Jean Garton, one of the founders of Lutherans for Life. (lutheransforlife.org)

Dr. Garton’s first book about abortion was entitled: “Who Broke the Baby?” These were the exact words that her own daughter blurted out when she accidentally saw something no child should ever have to see; the aftermath of an abortion.

In her last major speech on abortion, Dr. Garton commented on the chant: “My Body, My Choice.” She observed that our bodies are not perfect but they are still gifts from God and he wants us to make choices that affirm life not destroy it.

Dr. Garton also pointed out that the biggest friend of the truth is time. We may live in a society today that has accepted the lies of the abortion industry but the truth of God’s plan and purpose for all human life from conception to natural death cannot remain buried forever:

“Listen to me, O coastlands, and give attention, you peoples from afar. The Lord called me from the womb, from the body of my mother he named my name.” (Isaiah 49:1-2)

Dr. Garton did not live to see the reversal of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court decision that stripped away all legal rights for unborn children 44 years ago this month. But maybe, by God’s grace, we will live to see it happen.