Standing Firm

Sometimes there are things that are so obviously wrong, it is very difficult for this pastor to understand how decent people can offer up a defense for such things. Killing a child is one of those things.

Lindsay Clancy admitted she killed her three children. She has made several claims that seek to mollify her guilt such as she heard voices, she was depressed, etc. None of that matters in regards to her guilt. She did it. Her children are dead. It is amazing how many people are willing to overlook the death of her children, and sympathize with her depression. Let’s look at another real example of a mother under stress and see how she handled it.

A certain girl had a baby by caesarean section after forty plus hours in labor. She then developed an infection so bad, she nearly died. The doctors had to re-open her incision, without the aid of ANY anesthesia, go in with a metal rod, and physically puncture and drain the pocket of infection: twice. She spent two weeks in the hospital literally at death’s door. When she finally went home, she became sick with fever again and thought she might have to return to the hospital. Most of the time she was in hospital, she was alone, for her husband had to work. Most of the time she was at home, recovering from surgery, and living in a terrible neighborhood, she was alone. Did she get depressed? If she hadn’t, she would have been super-human! Did she kill her child? No! She went on to have three more.

Her second child was born two years and one month after the birth of her first child; also, by c-section. He was born with several painful hernias and cried a lot. At eight months old, he had lifesaving surgery. He was a very difficult child.

Twenty-seven months later, she gave birth to her third child. When she had discovered she was pregnant, she called her mother. Instead of some encouraging words or excitement, her mother said, “I don’t know why you’re pregnant! You can’t take care of the two you have now!” The couple was poor and had no insurance so no doctor would see her after the first visit because doctors want to be paid as does anyone else who performs a service. By the pure grace of God, someone, whom to this day they do not know who it was, paid the bill for every doctor visit, and the birth of the child itself, which was again by c-section.

When her third child was eight months old, and she was three months pregnant with her fourth child, her family was uprooted and moved half way across the country. Because of the c-sections and the closeness of her fourth pregnancy to her third, her body had not time to heal, so she was in continuous pain throughout this pregnancy. She moved into a tiny house, where she hung clothes up on a make-shift line inside to dry. They were very, very poor, though her husband worked and she kept other people’s children. At one point, the only food in the house were a few cans of vegetables, grits, a little milk and flour. Every day she fixed grits, for they were cheap and filling. Once, her oldest daughter, who was barely five asked, “Mommy, what’s for dinner?”

The mother replied, “Grits.”

Her daughter responded, “Oh, good Mommy! I love grits, they’re my favorite!” The mother went to the bedroom and cried. She decided, “My child is thankful, I will be thankful too!” 

Could one say she had reason to be depressed? Definitely! Did she have tons of support from family and friends? No! The only family she had was her immediate one, and her husband was gone more than he was home. Did she kill her children? No, no, no! They are all grown, all married and all but one have children of their own.

So, what is the difference between this woman we’re discussing and Lindsay Clancy? First, the woman above is a Born-Again Child of God. Through every difficulty, she looked to God! She knew her strength was not enough, so she fell upon the grace of God to be her strength! Instead of focusing on herself, her fear, her pain, and disappointment, she focused on her Savior! She poured herself into her children, so they would never know their poverty, or her pain! She lived the victory Christ promised, because she believed in the Christ who promised! If He could save her soul, He would deliver her from her distress! And He did!

Those who do not know Christ will often rely on anything that offers hope: be it false hope or unproven promises. Those without Christ often surrender to the fears of this life, of which there are many. Those without Christ can often sink into a depression so dark, they never return to light. Those who do not know Christ can often justify the most insanely evil things for which there can reasonably be no justification. Such is the case of what happened with Lindsay Clancy, and what is happening with those who say, “Me too, Lindsay.” Without Christ, there is no hope, there is no light, there is no tomorrow.

But, for those of us who know Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, there is light, no matter how deep the darkness! There is peace, no matter how loud the noise! There is joy, no matter how overwhelming the sadness!

The purpose of this entire piece is to be a reminder for the believer! We must remember that those who do not know Christ will react in darkness. We must live in the light so that we radiate the light of Christ through that darkness! We must not surrender to the darkness ourselves, but must remember we truly can do all things through Christ who strengthens us! Though the world shall descend into hopelessness and despair, we must remember the Christ who came to give us life more abundantly, for “to live is Christ!” We must walk in His light, that He might live His life in us and the world can see in Christ alone there is joy, there is peace and there is hope! Choose Christ and live!