Church Resources
"Product of Conception" or a Beautiful Baby Girl?
For almost three decades, Calvin college professor Pete Tigchelaar has had a three-month-old fetus encased in plastic that he uses in human biology classes.
Before one of my classes last year, a student asked if I still had the 3-month fetus encased in plastic that I usually show my students taking biology. I said I did, and she asked if she could see it. I invited her into my office and asked her how she knew about it and why she wanted to see it.
The young lady said that I had shown it to her mother (a former student) a generation ago and, though I did not know it at the time, this student was about three months pregnant.
This confused and panicked mother told me that she had visited Planned Parenthood and was told about the “product of conception” and “contents of the uterus” that she had within her. She was advised to have an abortion and had one scheduled for the following morning.
After viewing the fetus and seeing the tiny fingers, facial features, eyes, outline of the liver, and many other features characteristic of humans, she realized she had more within her than a “product of conception.” She cancelled the scheduled abortion, continued with her pregnancy, and eventually gave birth to a beautiful baby girl.
“I am that girl,” the student informed me. “Thanks for my life.”
I assured her that I did not give her life, but simply gave her mother the information to make an informed decision.
In this season when we celebrate the birth of someone who came to give each of us eternal life, I am reminded that unwed Mary would have been the perfect candidate for a similar procedure. I am thankful that her response was, “I am the Lord’s handmaid. Be it to me as you say.”
Have a blessed Christmas.
Written during exam week, December 2003