Did you know that your heart will beat more than 3.2 billion times over your lifetime? It began beating when you were 3 weeks old. Before you were born your heart already beat approximately 54 million times. Life is a gift from God, and all human lives matter.
On January 13, 1984, President Ronald Reagan issued a proclamation designating January 22 as the first National Sanctity of Human Life Day. The reason for that date? It was in January of 1973, when the U.S. Supreme Court legalized abortion-on-demand in all 50 states.
President Reagan wrote: “The values and freedoms we cherish as Americans rest on our fundamental commitment to the sanctity of human life. The first of the ‘unalienable rights’ affirmed by our Declaration of Independence is the right to life itself, a right the Declaration states has been endowed by our Creator on all human beings — whether young or old, weak or strong, healthy or handicapped.” Reagan also noted in his proclamation that tragically the number of unborn children lost since 1973 is “over tenfold the number of Americans lost in all our Nation’s wars.” That’s a staggering statistic. Sadly on this sinful planet, many human lives, both born and unborn, are unwanted.
January is designated as the Sanctity of Human Life month and January 22 is recognized annually as the National Sanctity of Human Life Day. Many churches throughout this country celebrate the third Sunday in January as Sanctity of Human Life Sunday. But what is sanctity? The word “sanctity” means the state or quality of being holy or sacred. It means something is very important and valuable—to be treated with respect. A synonym for sanctity is “godliness.”
All life comes from God the giver of life. Every human life is a gift and has value, for we are all created in the image of God. “For it was you who created my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I will praise you because I have been remarkably and wondrously made.” Psalm 139:13-14, CSB.
How amazing—you were created by God! He wants you. He desires you. He loves you. We are all children of God. Let’s follow the attitude of the Psalmist and praise God that as human beings we are “wondrously made” and be thankful for life. Human life is precious. Each individual has a choice and personal responsibility to determine the value and preciousness of human life. For not only did God give us life, He also gave each of us the freedom of choice. Each of us has the power to choose to respect and protect the sanctity of human life. Life is beautiful.
To read the entire presidential proclamation by Ronald Reagan, please visit:
