The Sanctity of Life
By: Dr. Kathee Dimock, seventh grade science teacher
All life is created by God and has intrinsic value. He has commanded us to care for and steward His creation. Because humans are made in His image and are precious to Him, human life is sacred and should be protected.
Many Christians are vocal about condemning the taking of innocent lives and advocating for the protection of the unborn - and rightly so. However, we haven’t always excelled in “putting our money where our mouths are.” While we may be quick to teach what is wrong, we’re not always as quick to extend grace or support to those facing unimaginably difficult choices or those who have made decisions we disagree with.
James 2:15-16 comes to mind: “Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?” In the same way, if we tell a woman in a crisis pregnancy what she should or shouldn’t do but fail to walk alongside her in her struggle, we are not living out our faith effectively. As the body of Christ, we are called to do more than just speak against sin. Jesus never hesitated to call sin what it was, yet He consistently extended compassion, forgiveness, and kindness to sinners. I know He has been merciful and kind to me.
So, how do we respond?
Perimeter School has a rich history of teaching students about the sacredness of human life. While much of the focus has been on protecting the unborn, the call to value life extends to every age and stage. For many years, we participated in a silent march to stand for the value of human life, but this is just one way to express this belief. Ministries across our community serve those in need, honoring the dignity of every life, and I am grateful that our students have opportunities to participate in these efforts - like during our recent Sanctity of Life Serve Day. These experiences teach our children that it is our responsibility to love, serve, and come alongside those in need, no matter the cause of their circumstances. Serving others in this way is a practical demonstration of valuing life and pointing people to Jesus.
Beyond marches and service projects, we also weave the sanctity of life into our curriculum. In the younger grades, students learn about the uniqueness and beauty of each person through simple analogies, like the uniqueness of a snowflake. In my seventh grade class, we have written letters of encouragement to women in crisis and engaged in meaningful discussions. These conversations allow students to explore their thoughts on topics such as abortion, adoption, and extending empathy to those involved.
I remember one student who initially thought it was unloving to place a child for adoption. This led to a thoughtful discussion that helped the student see how adoption can be both a loving and a deeply painful choice. Another student shared a beautiful analogy for the value of an unborn child, saying, “If you had a piece of paper that you knew would someday turn into gold, you would never crumple it up and throw it away. You would take care of it and treasure it.”
These honest, heartfelt discussions are essential for our students. They don’t need to be shielded from difficult topics; instead, they need Christ-like responses modeled for them.