Every Life is Beautiful: ‘October Baby’ takes on Abortion
Tuesday, September 11, 2012 at 7:35AM 
By Wanda Thomas Littles
For millions of mature women, young adult women, and teen aged girls, some of whom have aborted multiple times, when given time to think about the magnitude of what they have done, a large percentage of them find that they are unable to forgive themselves, or hold heartfelt regrets, or have deep emotional scars over their choice to abort their child. Understandably many of these women have become vocal pro-life advocates.
However, what more can you do when the law supports and upholds the height of sexual irresponsibility among those who know better?
A man could not walk into an upscale restaurant in his pajamas without risking the consequence of being thrown into jail. But an irresponsible couple can take a life as a result of their careless passions and be supported by a United States law that says it is okay, and this is happening in one of the most, at least in name, civilized countries in the world, with no consequences.
What the few who govern the many, are saying in essence is that, today’s America places a higher value on the right to safeguard participants in irresponsible sex (the pursuit of happiness) than they do on the child produced by it.
But does Christian filmmaker/director of “October Baby,” a movie that grossed almost two million dollars opening weekend after showing on only 400 screens, beat you over the head with the debauchery of it all in his movie?
No. He simply and delicately presents a story of love, of forgiveness; loosely based on Gianna Jessin’s story, where a life is reclaimed as sacred and beautiful—where a life shattered, rises in triumph.
He knows that some woman, some young girl, maybe even you are churning inside, grappling with your mind to make a choice between losing your boyfriend or your baby, finishing school or your baby, moving up in your career or your baby.
And his October Baby says gently,
“Choose Life.”
Erwin reflects, “The tagline to October Baby is 'Every life is beautiful' and I hope that we can continue to gather around that, and celebrate and value life: the evangelicals with Catholics, the pro-life community, and the adoption community are doing that now.”
But when a baby can be destroyed as a mere useless, disposable commodity what does that say about our culture? That we favor convenience over life?
Erwin says, “We live in a culture of me, it’s all about me.”
If it doesn’t make me look good, feel good, meet my needs, take me where I want to go, or bring me pleasure, I’ll just get rid of it, simple as that. In light of that, where will a young man learn about standing in the gap for the child he’s fathered and honoring a young woman as the mother, or a young girl the sacredness of her womb, when a few really questionable “me-first peddlers” at home, in the media, in government, and in our schools are giving them the go ahead to live as profligate a life as possible?
And how does a new and living baby nestled warmly inside its mother’s womb make a name change from tissue to mama’s baby boy or baby girl?
Erwin believes that, “We’re trying to create a culture where there are no consequences for our actions, and that’s not possible. We’ve run from the consequences, now it’s time to look at the consequences.”
And they are everywhere.
Erwin was not an abortion activist before October Baby but is now because he’s gained knowledge and along with it, conviction—conviction to present the most sensitive portrayal of a love story, an abortion survival story, and a forgiveness story in a film that is bringing healing to hurting hearts, showing a divided public that every life is beautiful.
October Baby Summary
When Hannah, the teen aged girl searching for the truth about who she is, played by Rachel Hendrix says,
“My whole life has been a lie.”
Somehow that statement explains the search for significance most of us reach to varying degrees. We seek answers about who we are and how we should look at life from those we love or from the world we’re a part of, in many cases only to find that their answers are seriously flawed or untrue. Disappointed, we seek to uncover for ourselves a reality that cannot be shaken. Some turn to popular philosophies, some turn to other relationships, and some turn to God.
After learning that she was an abortion survivor, this revelation sends Hannah into a passionate pursuit to know who she is, who her birth mother is, why her mother tried to abort her, and what does her life mean now. Hendrix’s portrayal is the essence of youthful innocence in full bloom haunted by the sudden, life changing disclosure about the circumstances of her birth. Her first lead to the mystery of who she is comes from a source who knows exactly what happened. Jasmine Guy’s gripping performance as Mary, the nurse in attendance at the time of the botched abortion, is a character crafted by Guy into a tormented soul who urgently needed to release the secret that had plagued her for years. Guy’s rendering of Mary is a study in the art of perfecting a character. In minutes she lets you feel through a somewhat addled mind and a sort of mild malaise, the naked truth about abortion and the life-draining futility of harboring guilt and shame for so many years.
As Hannah listens in stunned incredulity another clue unravels; and after a small adventure with her closest childhood friend and love interest Jason, played by Jason Burkey, she finds her birth mother. All her hopes are dashed as she goes through yet another heart break—this time one too painful to forgive.
Filled with emotions that border on hatred, she stumbles upon a member of the clergy who counsels her, and the specter of unforgiveness shadows her steps, ultimately taking her to a place of breakthrough.
What October Baby expresses so poignantly is that you cannot know life until you forgive, you cannot love until you forgive, you cannot heal until you forgive—yourself and others.
Wanda Thomas Littles is an author, speaker, and freelance writer. Her work has appeared in A Time of Singing magazine and Clubhouse Jr. She has just completed her latest books of poetry, Like a Thief in the Night and A New Fire, as well as a novel called Preacha! Wanda and her husband reside in San Antonio, where she's also a radio announcer on KDRY. Find out more at WandaLittles.com.
Reader Comments (7)
thank you. this is tru i have many questions as to why im here, sometimes i wish i had not been born, but i am learning God has a purpose and on those days when i dont understand why, i have to trust that He knows best. thanks.
Great article! I think abortion is not covered enough in the church. It is happening every single day. Glad to see it being discussed. I haven't seen this movie yet though. Perhaps I will check it out.
I know all about the pain of abortion. I'm not proud but I had two. Now that I am older and have healthy children I still think about the two I aborted. I carry that guilt with me even though I know the Lord has forgiven me. I even dream about my unborn children sometimes and it hurts. I wish the church would talk about this more to avoid more women making the same mistake I made.
Excellent, excellent review Ms. Wanda!! I saw this film. It was so touching. I laughed. I cried and I HIGHLY recommend it. Again, wonderful review of the film. Makes me want to watch it again. lol
This article gave a thorough review of a movie I probably would not have chosen to watch, had I not read the article. Now I look forward to watching each characters' healing journey through this sensitive and mostly "hushed" topic/experience.
I enjoyed this movie as well. Later in my adult life I learned that my mother aborted a baby. She has passed on now. I wonder how she must have felt. This happened years before she came to know the Lord. Even with all of the controversy surrounding this issue, it is only now, after reading your review of October Baby, Wanda, that the harsh realization has struck me -- she could have aborted me. My Lord.
To God's Lady, I've been where you are, and this too shall pass. As you are already doing, continue to immerse yourself in knowing Him through His word, not through books about him, or what people think about Him but by getting intimately acquainted with what His word says about Him. You will grow in understanding, knowledge, and wisdom and He will begin to give you the knowledge of what gifts He's given you that you can develop and use for His glory, the sole purpose we exist.
Kenya, you are so right! There are so many who are duped by a lack of godly knowledge.
Anonymous, that guilt you're carrying is for you. Your babies are perfectly formed new beings with no pain, no fear, no suffering, no lack, no harm, and they will never die again. They are happy, incredibly healthy, and they are loved and cared for by God Himself.
As far as your part in getting them to their perfect home, you can't do better until you know better, and it sounds like you have learned that every life is beautiful. Your aim now need not be guilt over what you truly did not understand all the implications of; but rather gratitude for the blessing of teaching your children here with you, the beauty of life and respecting and caring for theirs and every life. Your guilt can't lead you to build that kind of legacy, but releasing it will.
I appreciate you Maryland! Made me do all that too.
Texas, look for the moment in the movie when the love and forgiveness quietly overtakes her heart! It's a great film.
Yes, SK, My Lord! The possibility is real. God is real too. To say I understand why the sovereign God of the universe takes some and leaves others is light years beyond my understanding. But let us reason together, He left you, you're His. All of His have a purpose. Find out what yours is and thank Him for the opportunity to operate in union with His plans for you, plans of peace and not evil; plans to give you hope as you grow in Him. Then share with others His blessings to you.
Every child is beautiful. Every child is a miracle, so worthy of life.
Thanks for your responses!