Remember Samuel

Some weeks ago while cleaning out some older files, I ran across a ten year old Focus on the Family newsletter that I had purposed never to throw out. It had this photo on the front and when I first saw it, I could not for the life of me figure out what was going on. I didn't read the article first so I stared and stared at the photo and when I saw the hand, my mind was ready to explode! You probably know the story of this photo. Obviously, it was a photo you wouldn't see much in the MSM, but its story has been told by faithful folks who knew its importance. You may recall that the little fist you see in the middle belongs to Samuel Alexander Armas, who at the time the picture was taken was a 21-week old preborn baby. Sometimes a child at this stage of life is called a "fetus," but as far as I'm concerned, he is a baby. It would have been quite difficult for him to survive outside the womb at this stage, but he is still a baby. If you have never heard or read the story about this particular photo (called the "Fetal Hand Grasp" Photograph), I encourage you to read it here. Also, You might like to read Samuel's story which is written here.

I just want to say this: Snopes, in its usual fashion, has discounted some of the circumstances surrounding this photo. I don't have the time to go into all the controversy as to whether the baby reached out his hand on his own accord or what the reaction of the surgeon was. One thing to me is sure and vital. There is a hand there and that hand has fingers which are curled around or resting on that of the surgeon. He or others may not think of that in the way that some of us do, but to me it is a verification (not that I needed it) of God's work in the womb as written in Psalm 139:13-16. Snopes' assessment of the situation does nothing to move me from exclaiming "How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God!"

We are approaching yet another Sanctity of Human Life Sunday in what has been a long fought and continuing battle since Roe vs. Wade. I just thought it would be a good time for all of us to remember Samuel.