This is baby Olivia. In the video above, you can see her development from conception to birth. In just 40 weeks, a fertilized egg – which is a new human life – goes through remarkable stages of growth.

• At just three weeks gestation, her heartbeat can be detected;
• By six weeks gestation, she begins to move her body and brain activity can be recorded;
• By eleven weeks, she is playing in the womb;
• By twenty-seven weeks, she can recognize her parents’ voices.

While watching this video, it is immediately apparent to the viewer that Olivia is a human. She is not a clump of cells (and she is certainly not some white blob), but a living baby who can interact with her environment. While this may seem obvious, we must not forget this fact. In a society that is desperate to dehumanize the unborn, we must defend their humanity and their God-given rights.

In the Declaration of Independence, it says, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” As recognized in this founding document, unborn babies – human beings at the earliest stages of life – are endowed by God with the right to life.

Today is Sanctity of Life Sunday, and churches across the country are advocating to protect these precious lives. One of the biggest steps we can take, though, is reminding people of the humanity of that child. Here are a few easy ways you can help make a difference:

• Share this video! Whether you show it to your children, share it on social media, or share it some other way, this is a beautiful illustration of the humanity of the unborn.
• Hold fast to the word “baby.” While this may seem simple, language plays a significant role in how we view the world. You can learn more about this here.
• Pray and share Focus on the Family’s list of Scriptures that advocate for the unborn. The Bible speaks directly about God the Creator and we must know and share this news!
• Invest in the work of North Carolina Family Policy Council HERE to ensure that unborn children in North Carolina are safe.

For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.

 – Psalm 139:13-14