Heartbeat Press - August 2026 Edition

Lasting Values - Tools for Building Up the Next Generation of Pro-Lifers

    Call me old fashioned or behind the times but I am (and will always be) an enthusiastic proponent of preserving children's innocence for as long as possible. Too often nowadays children are denied the opportunity to "just be kids" during their fleeting childhood and are instead inundated with messaging that encourages them to grow up, act years beyond their actual age, or introduces them to mature themes long before they are actually ready for that exposure. In fact, I would argue that there are no true kids anymore. Instead we have generations of up-and-coming mini adults who haven't been afforded the luxury of being naive yet genuine. Again, call me an old-fogey, but I think this is a great loss and one that should be corrected if only to grant kids the ability to rediscover simplicity again. To that end (though some Pro-Lifers may argue the point), children shouldn't be exposed to the brutality of abortion until they are mature enough to face it intentionally. Just as parents should protect their children from death by abortion they should also shield their children from confronting the practice at a young age, as that responsibility falls to the adults who can actively combat it. However, there is a difference between protection and the building up of values (the latter of which can be presented in age appropriate terms).

    Kids don't need to watch Unplanned at seven-years-old. Images of aborted babies is something they should not have to comprehend at eleven. And books like The Walls Are Talking and Subverted are reads that are as inappropriate as having a child swallow Crime and Punishment "because they have to understand its themes eventually." In short, there is a proper age for everything and childhood is not the time to tackle the issue of abortion. The correct time will arrive eventually and when it does patience and wisdom should be applied, but only then. However, there are plenty of resources that exist to develop a care for life (as a whole) which is a suitable lesson for children and one that can inform deeper belief systems when the time is right. 

Storks: Adoption, Friendship, Adventure - in this vibrant animated comedy that's perfect for kids of all ages, a hapless orphan and an anxious stork team up the deliver an accidental baby to a little boy who urgently wants a sibling. Though storks don't deliver babies anymore and the journey is fraught with peril (namely scheming bosses, strangely collaborative wolves, and a crazy stork with a connection to Orphan Tulip) as time passes the unlikely due find themselves deeply devoted to their charge and their mission of giving her a family. They might not be mailmen in the traditional sense but their package is precious and well worth the snow, rain, heat, and gloom they must go through to deliver her. Exploring themes of belonging and found family, Storks is an adorable and deeply touching promotion of Pro-Life adjacent values. It's easy for kids to understand and is a wonderful option for a family movie night - alla family values. 

When You Were Inside Mommy and Before Your Birthday: Science, Love, Understanding - often produced to explain a new sibling to young children these two picture books are more profound than they outwardly seem. Through their stunning illustrations and simple yet accurate words both books follow a baby's growth from conception to birth while easily explaining the process for little ears. Before Your Birthday is particularly inspiring as it credits the entire birth process to God early on and depicts several different delivery techniques (hospital, C-section, and homebirth), enabling parents to personalize their child's understanding of pregnancy, delivery, and birth. Heartbeat Press also highly recommends Pro-Life Kids! and My Birthday, Jesus' Birthday as stellar Pro-Life kids books and wholeheartedly promotes teaching kids how life begins and why it should be respected. 

Pregnant Mother Anatomy Puzzle: Education, Art, Reverence - offered by companies like Genius Games, beautifully crafted and reverent toys like this act as natural teaching tools and early science education for littles. Getting to put together a depiction of the delicately interwoven connection between mother and child exposes kids to just how unique and powerful that link is and can also give them a reference point that will quickly come to mind when interacting with pregnant women and their children, promoting immediate insight. 

Pregnancy Resource Center Clothing Collection: Hard Work, Empathy, Accomplishment - perfectly timed as the weather gets colder this kid friendly activity acts as an easy contribution to Pro-Life work. Round up those items that your kids don't wear anymore, search them for fixable stains and rips, drop them off at your local pregnancy resource center, and impress upon your kids the importance of paying good fortune forward. There is always a need for donations and the entire experience is a great lesson. No hands are too little to help, every action is worthwhile, and sharing can be fun. 

    Kids hold great potential, especially when it is promoted well and early, and are far more preceptive of right and wrong than most adults. Nurturing an early respect for life should be a non-negotiable part of the Pro-Life movement as doing so quite literally builds the future of the movement and cultivates a much needed reverence for life as a whole. 

Photo Credit: Deposit Photos.com

Frogs

Frogs in the evening,

Mid August, cool skies,

As thunder rolls over the trees.

Yellow street lamps,

And a far away car,

Summer's entirety draws to a close.

Photo Credit: Minimoss on Pinterest

The Bride

Born of fire, pride, and lust,

This woman comes to live.

Upon the earth that buried her,

By one man and creature saved.

Dusty dark and learning anew,

The fluttery feeling of a heart.

She looks upon the ruin of opulence,

And screams for primal fear.

A jolt, a lurch inhuman gate,

A child learning to walk.

And yet also too quickly thrust,

Into the arms of a knight with killer hands. 

Photo Credit: Pinterest - Machuca

Rush

Fallowing gold,

Leaves shiver upon the bow,

As Autumn approaches in a silent rush.

August River

Fog rolling in on a mid August river,

With herons and gulls floating low overhead.

A hazed orange sun hangs suspended in a slow inevitable drop,

And drips upon the water in a golden tear.

A breath, a whisper, the future, forever.

This moment is all and none. 

The Road

Dusty road and sun,

Stretch out for miles before us.

Brand new rings for show,

On fingers too young.

But life calls and hope persists.

Dumb young love sails on. 

Photo Credit: Bo Bartlett

Heartbeat Press - July 2026 Edition

Lessons From The Well - Seeing Value
    

    In her book "Unplanned," Abby Johnson, the world's preeminent authority on Pro-Life work after abortion, recounts her impression of the Pro-Lifers who picketed outside her Planned Parenthood facility in the early days of her tenure in the industry. As a naive college student who had begun volunteering as a parking lot escort, the constant presence of judgmental onlookers and disruptive prayer warriors left a bad taste in her mouth. To Johnson, the picketers embodied hate and a staunchly anti-feminist ideology that clashed with the worldview she had embraced in college. Planned Parenthood's training, which marked all Pro-Lifers as "the enemy," also colored her perspective. Though Johnson would later realize that the majority of these individuals were a peaceful and powerful presence of conviction, at the time their fault was all but proven by the extremists who screamed at women that they were evil, degenerate people while waving pictures of mutilated baby body parts (which Johnson trusted were fake). As a result, Johnson remained confident in her side of the issue for decades. After all, how could her care of women be wrong if the other side hurled insults and abuse as outreach tactics?

    Softened by 40 Days for Life's gentler approach to ministry (spearheaded by Sean Carney around the same time Johnson was rising in Planned Parenthood's ranks) and a few more decades of experience, blunt acts of Pro-Life action are few and far between nowadays. Most Pro-Life advocates agree that prayer, calm presence, and a listening ear are far more effective while championing life and often encourage those in need to approach them without fear of condemnation. Unfortunately, belligerent behavior and, more often, rampant preconceptions are still sometimes hurled at women seeking answers (albeit in the wrong place at Planned Parenthood). These ungracious tactics fail spectacularly 99% of the time and completely ignore the humanity of women with unplanned pregnancies. At their most vulnerable, these women need love and practical aid, not judgement. 

    For a clear picture of what gracious interaction should look like we can turn to John 4, in which the author recounts Jesus' interaction with a Samaritan woman that was as groundbreaking as it was unexpected. Finding Jesus (a Jewish man) at a Samaritan source of water that she herself had slunk to (as an outcast from her own society), the Samaritan woman didn't expect to have any (let alone a positive) interaction while running her errand. And yet, Jesus spoke to her kindly, revealed His true deific identity, and bestowed profound grace upon her. What makes these acts truly spectacular, though, is the fact that, as God, Jesus knew the Samaritan woman better than she knew herself. Every fault, sin, evil act, and doubt. Her tattered life and her human attempts to fix it. Everything she had ever done that made her unworthy to even grovel in His perfect presence was utterly laid bare in those moments as the God of the universe existing on earth looked the wreckage of His perfect creation in the eye. And despite it all, He still loved her. He didn't love her regardless of everything she'd done; He only loved her, and that changed her life.

    Declaring to the world shortly afterwards, "Come, see the man who told me all I ever did. Can this be the Christ?" the Samaritan woman may not have known exactly how powerful her conversation with the Man from Galilee was, but she knew something had changed, enough that she could feel the weight of the world lift from her shoulders such that she wanted to tell that same world about her newfound peace. The Samaritan woman got a glimpse of heaven, revealed through love, which gave her the inspiration to be different than all she had been. 

    We cannot see the complete ruin of someone's life, and we have no power to correct the small pieces of visible wreckage...but we are called to be Christ's hands and feet on earth, and in that capacity, love, not anger, is required. Returning to Abby Johnson's misconceptions: She recalls being strangely impacted by the presence of the quiet, prayerful, and friendly Pro-Lifer's outside her gate. She couldn't understand how they could be so kind and exude an unquenchable joy to everyone they encountered or how the could show up every day - rain or shine, blue sky or sleet - and still sing hymns, pray without ceasing, and wish her a good morning. It was unnatural but fiercely life-saving and evident of divine peace. When Johnson eventually left Planned Parenthood, she sought out these Pro-Lifers because she knew (despite everything she had done) they truly loved her and would do anything to see her freed from her past. Abortion-seeking and post-abortive women who have encountered this brand of Pro-Life work recount similar stories. Within the movement they found forgiveness and hope because their actions simply didn't matter, only their worth as children of God.

    Do you see God-gifted value in everyone you encounter? Abortion seekers? Pro-Choice Individuals? Abortion Workers? Do you see them as this world sees them or as the beautiful creations of Christ that they are meant to be? Can you love them, sins and all? Every human being has been purposely made and is, therefore, deserving of grace. Implement the lesson from the woman at the well, and dare to see that worth.    

Sources: John 4 (ESV), Unplanned by Abby Johnson 

Photo Credit: Peculiar Faith.com 

Fawn

The mother deer is weeping for her fawn,

Murdered upon the pavement.

Struck by a car yesterday because,

The driver figured it was no great loss. 

Sprawled on the side of the road,

In a beautiful forever repose.

Life was short,

But I've a hunch, worthwhile. 

Photo Credit: Pinterest

Heartbeat Press - June 2026 Edition

A Unique Joy - One Gene Does Not Determine Worth

    Celebrating its fourteenth birthday on March 21, 2026, World Down Syndrome Day continually seeks to recognize the six million people worldwide who have the condition and to highlight the many accomplishments of these unique individuals - from both genders, all ages, and every race. First diagnosed in 1866 by John Langdon Down and officially attributed to an extra chromosome in 1959 by French scientists Lejeune, Gautier, and Turpin, Down Syndrome is officially described as “a genetic condition where a person is born with an extra copy of chromosome 21 - affect(ing) how (his or her) brain and body develop(s).” It is the most common chromosomal condition diagnosed in the U.S. and an estimated 5,700 American babies are born with the condition every year. In conjunction, advancements in health care and lifestyle aid have vastly improved quality of life for individuals with Down Syndrome in recent decades. Now widely accepted in modern society (with special resources readily available for individuals with the condition and educational information on hand for the masses), Down Syndrome has ceased to be such an oddity...but it wasn’t always this way.

    Down Syndrome has existed since time immemorial, as is evident from historical records, art, and excavated remains, meaning that humanity has experienced the condition nearly as long as man himself has existed. Still, as recently as the 1970s and ‘80s, Down Syndrome was criminally misunderstood by the general public and, more often than not, treated as a severe deficiency warranting shame instead of understanding. Labeled as stupid or burdensome to their families, individuals with the condition where not afforded basic services or education. They were often remanded to institutional care (usually for life, beginning at a very young age) or sold to traveling shows as oddities (usually billed as “freaks”), and even those who avoided these hardships were still mistreated on the grounds that they were less than able. Amidst the eugenics movement of the 18/1900s, along with other people deemed “stupid” or “deficient,” people with Down Syndrome could be sterilized against their will (an act which lauded eugenicist and Planned Parenthood founder Margaret Sanger whole-heartedly supported) and many were also part of the estimated 300,000 people murdered in Nazi death camps because their physical or mental differences didn’t align with German Master Race ideology.

    Even today, after laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act (1990) and organizations like the National Down Syndrome Society (1979) were eventually created to protect differently-abled individuals and public education began to improve in the latter half of the 20th century, the scars of early mistreatment still ache and, unseen by most, have only dropped beneath the surface in our modern “inclusive” society. According to the United States Congress Joint Economic Committee, 60-90% of babies prenatally diagnosed with Down Syndrome are automatically slated for death (requiring their parents to fight for their child’s life if they value it enough). Many are the abortion industry’s targets - with 70% of American Down Syndrome diagnoses ending in abortion and countries like Iceland advertising its near elimination of the condition through ability-selective termination. Fearful language like “disability” and “poor quality of life” remain the close shadow of these individuals and an overall air of self-aggrandizing sympathy still hovers around Down Syndrome despite the beauty, accomplishment, and joy of those with the condition.

    What is lost when Down Syndrome is destroyed? An entire life that had promise and a purpose. Abundant laughter and sparkling eyes full of wonder. Two arms that give hugs freely and without reservation. Lessons in kindness, patience, and enthusiasm that society desperately needs. A unique joy that individuals with Down Syndrome exude to brighten the world around them. All of this, gone in an instant because we couldn’t see its usefulness or get past our own fear of variety. However, I would like to challenge my readers to be better than this (even those ardent Pro-Lifers who haven’t yet admitted that they bristle a little when confronted with the “unusual”). The world holds so much potential for joy and friendship and little life lessons, and every human being has a unique and perfectly-gifted part to play in this brightening. I am no expert, but I would hazard a guess that individuals with Down Syndrome have been purposefully granted a few extra measures of light to share. Don’t be so narrow-minded as to discount this because the bearers look, sound, and act a little differently than you. After all, every human is a beautiful image of his/her creator and He ultimately decides how best they can lighten this world.

    Finally, oftentimes fear of the unusual stems from a lack of familiarity with it. Therefore, I challenge all my readers to better acquaint themselves with Down Syndrome as a whole. Read about it, learn what causes it, and most importantly get out and meet the people thriving with it. I guarantee that your heart will warm exponentially and that you will be pleasantly surprised in ways you never thought possible.

Sources: CDC.gov, UN.org, Global Down Syndrome.org, PMC.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, Cleveland Clinic, Global Down Syndrome Foundation, The Beehive, News Medical.net, Global Down Syndrome Foundation, Live Science Plus

Photo Credit: Stock.Adobe.com

Summer Storm, Rolling In

I watched a summer storm roll in...

Lightening strikes near by in the quickly seceding sky,

The river water is choppy,

And a little girl swings higher, 

Than she's ever gone before.

The whispering trees shiver with dark blue behind them,

Thunder rumbles.

Skin pricks up in the presence of gathering electricity, 

And the sun dies for an afternoon.

A pure white gull circles in protest,

The wind is crying rain.

Mountainous black clouds roil over the horizon,

And a single gasp signals the plunge. 

Photo Credit: Pinterest