One of this year’s U.S. Supreme Court blockbusters is a case from Louisiana titled June Medical Services v. Gee. The state legislature passed a law to protect the health of women seeking abortions that requires abortion doctors to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital, in case complications occur during the procedure requiring the mother’s hospitalization. In such cases, the abortionist can provide necessary patient history and assistance in a situation where the woman’s life may be in jeopardy and time is of the essence.

Abortionists, however, worried that the law would put them out of business (because they either can’t or don’t want to obtain admitting privileges), convinced a lower federal court to block the law’s implementation, and the dispute has reached the Supreme Court. Parties to the lawsuit filed legal briefs pro and con while awaiting a date for oral argument, and outside parties have been granted the right to file “friend-of-the-court” briefs, aka “amicus” briefs, addressing legal and factual issues that could prove helpful in educating the justices on the finer points necessary to resolve the case.

One such amicus brief was tendered to the court by over 350 female lawyers and legal professionals and law students to purportedly show that without access to abortion, they wouldn’t have the great careers or aspirations that they do. The following testimony by one of those women fairly represents the common thread of the brief:

“My abortion, simply and profoundly, allowed me to live my life according to my plans, to complete my law degree, and to end a relationship with someone who was not the person I wanted to marry or co-parent with. Had that choice not been available, I would not have the life I have now.”

But is that the mindset that all women share? Is there a better way to analyze career and family other than to prioritize a career at the expense of preborn life?

The Daily Citizen reached out to several pro-life moms who disagree with the premise of the brief. Some left careers to raise families; some figured out a way to work and raise children; and some waited until after the children were older before entering or going back into the workforce. Here are their stories.

Ashley – Lawyer, mom of four.

“Giving up a career that I loved in order to stay home to raise our four children was the single most important decision I ever made. My children are the joy of my heart and I thank God for the chance to be with them each day, especially because I know the years with them are short!

“Motherhood—not my career—has allowed my life to be all that it is today and I would not trade a single day of being with many kids for any full-time career, and I know many other moms who would say the same.”

Amanda – Public policy director, pro-life activist, former state senator, mom of three.

“I have a very different view from the women quoted in the amicus brief. I have built my career around my family and believe I’ve been blessed because of it. I did not plan the birthdates of my girls, but God did. And He has guided me to each job opportunity since, all of which have been fulfilling while allowing me to put my family first. I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

Stephanie – Attorney, mom of two.

“I have twin boys and I am an attorney. I work alongside many women who have children and successful careers. My job is great, but it won’t last forever. My job is not my future –my children are. Our children are literally the future of our nation, our generation.  They are worth investing in, above all else.”

Alicia – Manager of accounting, mom of two.

“I gave up an opportunity to have a position within the civil service government system where I would have been set for life. It would have required me to travel a lot. My kids were six years old and two.  I could not see myself ever being away from my kids like that. God blessed me years later with a position with a Christian organization that allowed me to do more traveling than I could have ever imagined. I believe the sacrifices I made allowed me to be a better employee and eventually a better boss than I could have ever been.”

Cathy – Medical technologist, mom.

“Jobs and careers will still be available after my children are grown. I can be replaced fairly easily in my job but not as a mother to my children. Rewards in a career come quickly, but the greatest rewards of raising your children come after many years of investment in their lives and you are blessed beyond measure when they become successful and reflect the character you helped to build in them. I’ve experienced no regrets, ever, for sacrificing corporate success and recognition for the praise from grateful children and their Father in heaven for a job well done in raising them.”

Monica – Public relations professional, mom of four.

“I love public relations and all that goes along with it. But nothing my profession offers can compare to the joy of being a mom. We need to get back to a place where it’s OK for women to say that. Maybe then they wouldn’t feel like they have to sacrifice their children for the sake of a career.”

These pro-life moms all have important foundational beliefs in common. They believe children are not a burden, but a blessing from the Lord (Psalm 127:3). They gladly accept motherhood over careers because God promises an abundant life (John 10:10) to all believers, no matter what your parental status might be. Ending a preborn life in exchange for the alluring but false promise of fulfillment in a career is saddening, not empowering as those female lawyers in the amicus brief claim.

We hope the justices reading that brief will agree.