At this year’s Golden Globes Awards, actress Michelle Williams won a best actress award and used her acceptance speech to give what many are calling a passionate “pro-choice” message.  In essence she said that her choice to abort her unborn child enabled her to stay on the career track that led to her accomplishment.

There is no doubt that having a child is a life altering experience.  Even if you decide to give the child up for adoption, the act of bringing a child to term can sidetrack aspects of your life.  And if you keep the child and raise him or her, the changes and sacrifices you must make are even more profound, especially if it occurs in a time in your life when you are not prepared for it.

When a woman becomes pregnant, she is faced with an inevitable act of sacrifice.  She must either decide to sacrifice aspects of her future – her time, her career, a lifestyle to which she has grown accustomed - or she must sacrifice the entire future of her child by denying him or her entrance into this world.

In a perfect world, women would only get pregnant when they are ready to make the sacrifices in their own lives that are necessary to raise a child.  But we do not live in a perfect world.  And because we don’t and because, quite frankly, we are becoming an increasingly selfish and self-centered culture, women have become comfortable choosing instead to sacrifice their unborn children.

I don’t mean to imply that men are blameless in this.  Men have become every bit as selfish, if not more.  Our culture has enabled men to treat women like sex objects, satisfying their primal desires with no hint of responsibility.  We have somehow let men off the hook when it comes to sacrifice and that has made the burden on women all the greater.

In her moment of triumph, Michelle Williams revealed the tragedy of our time.  While there are many who disagree with my perspective, I can’t help but picture a much more compelling acceptance speech.  One that takes place on an alternate timeline, years from now, when the child Michelle Williams had instead chose to let live accepts a similar award and thanks her mother for sacrificing her career so that this child could grow up to achieve a moment of greatness.
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But alas, Michelle Williams exercised her right to choose.  And she chose to sacrifice someone else’s future instead of affecting her own.

As we start a new year, many of us will begin carrying out the resolutions we have made.  For some of us that means sticking to an exercise program.  For others, it means eating a healthy diet.  These are all worthy endeavors.  However, I would encourage you to examine your spiritual life and consider what you could do to improve it in the coming year.

Are you a Christian who has a sinful habit you just can’t shake?  I would encourage you to begin a serious daily prayer regiment and seek the support of fellow believers whom you trust.  Sin brings separation from God.  Fighting the sin in your life will bring you closer to God and as such there can be no better goal for the new year.

Another worthy resolution would be to share the message of Christ with others this year.  This can take many forms.  I am by nature a shy person, so my evangelizing most often is done through writing, although I am striving to become a better communicator so that I can in turn become a better messenger for Christ.  One of the most important ways to draw people to Christ is to lead a life that reflects his message.  A life defined by grace, charity and love opens the door for conversations that will enable you to share the reason for the life you lead.
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There are people in your life that you know need to hear the message of Christ.  I would implore you not to wait until it is too late to share the message.  There is no greater kindness that you can do for someone than to guide them to Christ, and as Christians, we have no more important duty in our lives than to carry out this mission.

On Christmas Day, I received perhaps the greatest gift I have ever received.  A family member told me that he had given his life to God.  There is no greater joy than knowing that you have played a role in not only changing the current life of someone but helping to unite them with the one who will give them eternal life.  To replace the grave doubt of wondering what will become of a loved one when they die with the certainty of knowing you will see them in Heaven is a wonderful thing.

So as you begin this New Year, I would encourage you to resolve to lead a live that serves God and to share his message of salvation with a renewed purpose.  In doing so, you might make this not only a life-changing year, but perhaps an eternity-changing year for others.
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And if you are reading this and you do not believe in God, or are wavering in your faith, I would encourage you to make this the year when you turn to him.  His earnest desire is that no one should be lost or perish.  He calls us all to be with him and is waiting to welcome you with open arms.  There is nothing you have done that he will not forgive.  There is no limit to his mercy and no end to his love.  All you need to do is accept the gift of salvation that God has given to us all through the sacrifice of his son Jesus Christ.  This gift is free for all who would take it.  Will you continue to leave this gift unclaimed or will you resolve to make this the year you claim that gift and change your destiny forever?