A Christmas Story

Calvin News ^ | December 18, 2003 | Phil de Haan

[Forgiven_Sinner]

A Christmas Story PHIL DE HAAN

For almost three decades Calvin College professor Pete Tigchelaar has had a three-month-old fetus, encased in plastic, that he uses in his human biology classes. He's always thought of the tiny fetus as a good educational tool.

But he's not thought of it as a lifesaver.

Last year, however, that changed when a student in one of his biology classes privately inquired if he still had it.

Intrigued Tigchelaar said that he did and invited the young woman to his office for further conversation. There he asked why she was interested. She proceeded to tell him an amazing story, one that he now is sharing more widely as Christmas draws closer.

The young woman told Tigchelaar that a generation earlier her mother had been a student in one of Tigchelaar's biology classes. Unknown to Tigchelaar this student was three months pregnant on a day he had shown the class the fetus with its tiny fingers, facial features, eyes, outline of a liver and other human features.

"She had already visited a pregnancy center," Tigchelaar recalls the young woman telling him, "and was told about the 'product of conception' and 'contents of the uterus' that she had within her. She was advised to have an abortion and had one scheduled for the following morning."

But after Tigchelaar's class she realized she had more within her than a "product of conception." And she cancelled her scheduled abortion, continued with her pregnancy and eventually delivered a healthy baby girl.

"I am that girl," the student then informed a stunned Tigchelaar. "Thanks for my life."

Tigchelaar, at the time, was amazed, speechless. He remembers in a halting voice telling the girl simply that she was beautiful.

"Even now," he says, "I can barely tell the story without breaking up."

Yet tell it he is. And for an important reason.

"In this season when we celebrate the birth of someone who came to give each of us eternal life," Tigchelaar says, "I am reminded that the unwed Mary would have been the perfect candidate for a similar procedure. I am thankful that her response was, 'I am the Lord's handmaid. Be it to me as you say.'"

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

"A Christmas Story." Calvin News (December 18, 2003).

This article reprinted with permission from Calvin News.

THE AUTHOR

Phil de Haan is director of media relations at Calvin College. He began working at Calvin in 1985 and is a native of Exeter, Ontario.

[Forgiven_Sinner]

The story transcends comment.

[GummyIII]

Amen.

[xrp]

No doubt.

[EagleMamaMT]

What a precious and beautiful story! This story beautifully illustrates in a wonderful way how the Lord can be using each of us, without our knowledge, to perfect His glorious plan in someone else's life.

[Boxsford]

I will print it out and read it to my children. Thank you for posting. Great way to start a new year.

[CARepubGal]

Teary eyed Ping!

[drstevej]

Wonderful.

[NeoCaveman]

But after Tigchelaar's class she realized she had more within her than a "product of conception." And she cancelled her scheduled abortion, continued with her pregnancy and eventually delivered a healthy baby girl.
"I am that girl," the student then informed a stunned Tigchelaar. "Thanks for my life."

Wow. Thanks for posting this.

[Barnacle]

Wow indeed.

I am reminded of the sermon I heard today. A prayer by John Neumann that we really don't know God's plans for us on this Earth. And, we won't know our real impact here until we look back from Heaven.

[Ursus arctos horribilis]

Nothing I can add that would contribute.

[Lib Buster]

Wonderful story. As an added bonus, it gives me hope that not ALL college professors are pinko commie radical leftists. Thanks for a fantastic post!

[fortunecookie]

What a beautiful Christmas story!! I can't read it without tearing up!! I will be sharing it with others.

[Neever]

Praise God

[Jean Chauvin]

Thanks for the ping.

Prof Tigchelaar is a very highly respected professor at Calvin.

Jean

[b9]

Goosebump City

[lockeliberty]

Thank you so much for the ping.

As an adoptee from Bethany Christian Services I can tell you that is only by the grace of God that I live and breath today. Thank God for his faithful servants.

Bethany Christian Services

[kimmie7]

I, too, am adopted. After finding my birth mother several years ago, I got to meet the relative that talked her out of having an abortion.

What a wonderful story. Thanks, OP, so much for posting it!

[Forgiven_Sinner]

Heh. I too, am adopted. I have found out my birth mother's name, but have not yet found or contacted her.

It's on my "to do" list for 2004.

[lockeliberty]

You guys are ahead of me. When I was 18 I got some non-identifying information. The laws were far more restrictive at that time. At times I still consider trying to find out "who" but as of today I still have not decided to go through that process.

My wife was a birthmom and her daughter came and found her a few years back. She was very happy to meet and develop a relationship with her. She just found out she is going to be a Grandmother and she is very happy.

One of her uncles at the time offered to pay for an abortion but the grace of God prevented her from accepting that offer.