a plan and a future

By JoAnna Cummings, Guest Contributor | April 26, 2021 | Reprinted with permission from her blog, "Chronic in College".

Today in class, we started talking about physician assisted suicide. Our professor asked us if we thought it was right or wrong and why. As he asked this question, he began to lay out a situation where someone is where they will stay physically - that their illness will never get better. Catch me in the back row trying not to cry about it. 

This got me thinking. Would I have taken the option of assisted suicide had it been given to me while I was going through treatment? As I thought about it, there were times when I probably would have. And I know that I'm only 20 and that it wouldn't have been offered to me because I am young. But thinking about it in terms of my own life helped me put it into perspective.

As our class argued this question, I realized that I think it should be illegal. Because I would have missed out on so much if I had gone a route like that. As an impressionable person, I needed the protection. If you know someone is cutting themselves, you don't give them a knife. This is the same principle for assisted suicide. 

The Bible says not to murder, it's a direct commandment (Exodus 20:13). Murder is murder no matter what route taken, including assisted suicide and abortion. No matter what the situation is, it is still wrong. 

I know that everyone's story is different. But the more I think on it, the more angry I get that anyone could think that someone's life isn't worth it. I get it. I live in more pain everyday than most people would imagine dealing with ever. I know what it's like to wish that you could just die and avoid it all. I know what it's like not to have any hope for a future. 

But I also know that there is hope. 

I know that there are baby kittens in the spring. And there are moments where you just can't stop laughing with your friends. I know there are cookies to bake and homework assignments that are actually fun. I know there's at least one person who will always love me (thanks, Mom). 

It makes me angry to think that there could have been an option to end my life. That I could have missed out on all of this. And it makes me angry to think that someone out there might have thought that it was a good idea. 

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Jeremiah 29:11