To Be A Slave

    In our U.S. History class we have been reading a book called To Be A Slave.(Author Julius Lester) In this book there is a story about a woman, and every time she has a child her master comes and takes her new born out of the crib and sells the child. One day the woman has another child, this time she knows her master is going to sell the new born. So the mother deciedes to kill her own child than to have it be sold to another man and never see it again.

    When I read this I was kind of shocked but I understood why she did it. If it was my child in that situation than I might do the same thing. What would you do?

Comments

[Bronwyn G]

Kill or be killed, hhmm? It was that tough in the States.

A moving and affecting story for me. And it puts me on the crux of an ethical dilemna like all the best stories do. I would try not to do it if there was a better way, but sadly I might! What does the Bible say about not killing? Many slaves became Christian, or they had their own religions.

[Lani]

Hi Tim,

Isn't that the most awful decision any person could have to make? Can you imagine the pain and despair that mother must have felt? I wonder if we can even imagine a life so terrible, that we would feel we have to kill a newborn to protect it from atrocities?

Your question made me think. What really bothers me is that I know that I strongly believe that suicide is NEVER an answer to pain and despair and that there is always hope. I believe in life and light----

But I do fear if I were in that situation, I would take my baby's life and then my own. I think the pain would be so great that I would not be able to live.

I'm struggling now with these ideas after thinking on your question. Do you think I'd be wrong in taking the action I mentioned? If you and I were there in that situation, would you try to talk me out of it?

Lani

[Tim]

Hi guys. I just want to say that as a Christian, you can trust in God, cast all your cares on Him and He will bear all your burdens. There is no pain too great, that God will not take it off your shoulders and give you a spirit of peace.

I understand that we may not go through the trials that this woman faced, but we all go through trials in our lives. Sometimes we endure these trials, and make it through.

As a Christian, God gives me deliverance from all these pains, and peace through every trial in His Holy Spirit.

I'd just like to say that if anyone has a question about my faith in God, just speak up and I will strive to give you an answer for my hope.

Thanks.

Tim

[Tim]

Hi guys. I just want to say that as a Christian, you can trust in God, cast all your cares on Him and He will bear all your burdens. There is no pain too great, that God will not take it off your shoulders and give you a spirit of peace.

I understand that we may not go through the trials that this woman faced, but we all go through trials in our lives. Sometimes we endure these trials, and make it through.

As a Christian, God gives me deliverance from all these pains, and peace through every trial in His Holy Spirit.

I'd just like to say that if anyone has a question about my faith in God, just speak up and I will strive to give you an answer for my hope.

Thanks.

Tim