Why I Am Thankful

The gift of life

Thanksgiving

WHY I AM THANKFUL

The gift of life

Joshua Washington

Every year around my birthday I am reminded of how fortunate I am that my parents—my mother in particular—decided to give birth to me. This isn't my birthday, but it is on my heart to share my gratitude in this season of giving thanks.

Deciding to have me was not a difficult decision for my mother to make. Some people have that story. It isn’t mine. Though I was a surprise, my mom had no intention of doing anything but bringing me into the world. This does not take away the impact of her decision. In 1990 (the year I was born) approximately 1.4 million babies were aborted in America and 4.2 million born. A quarter of viable babies were aborted in 1990. I had a 25% chance of being conceived to people who would ultimately terminate me.

I could write for the next several paragraphs about Margaret Sanger’s “Negro Project,” eugenics, and the overall racist origins of the abortion industry. However, for the sake of my message today, I want to stay focused and instead tell a short story.

My mom often shares this story with my sisters and me whenever the subject of babies comes up. When she was pregnant with my oldest sister it was her doctor who broke the news to her. The next part she tells the same way every time.

My mother recalls the doctor informing her she’s with child. My mom was 22 years-old and had married my father a few short months prior. Before my mom could react or respond to the life-changing news, the doctor begins telling her about the option to have an abortion. The doctor started with “You’re pregnant” and in the same breath pivoted to “Now, here’s how you can end the pregnancy.” A little bit confused at the time, my mom eventually had to cut off her doctor and say “I- I’m going to keep the baby.” To which the doctor responds, “Oh…uh, well…congratulations, I guess.”

My mom remembers that part of the story like it happened this morning.

My mother brought me into the world at a time when society would have forgiven her had she decided to abort. She decided to give birth to me in a society that saw getting rid of a baby as a positive side effect of independence. Our Thanksgiving table is full and continues to grow every year because a strong woman bucked society and chose life every time.

As this particular Thanksgiving approaches I am reminded that a key manifestation of gratefulness is being someone else’s reason to be grateful. I believe we all have opportunities to take very personal and often unpopular stances for our kids. What we decide to do in those moments will potentially change the course of their lives...including granting them life itself.

You can only be grateful for such an intervention if you're alive to appreciate it.

Thanks, Mom.

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Joshua Washington is a husband, father, composer, and musician based in North Carolina. His father founded a K-12 Music school called the Zion Academy of Music in 1997, and Joshua has been its Director since 2013. Joshua now teaches from his private studio, but plans to relaunch the school on the East Coast are well underway. Under the artist name ‘JoDavi,’ Joshua writes, produces, travels, sings, and plays with his band and symphony players. You can find him on Substack, Twitter and Instagram.