Auburn University’s 2013 Miss Homecoming, Molly Anne Dutton, did not win the vote with the backing of a major sorority or by being the most popular, but by telling her amazing story. Dutton’s birth mother was sexually assaulted and became pregnant. Her husband gave her an ultimatum: get an abortion or get a divorce. She chose life.
Miss Homecoming’s mother went to Lifeline Children’s Services, a Christian adoption agency, in Birmingham for help, resources and to ultimately give her daughter up for adoption. In one of her campaign videos, Dutton gives this agency, along with her mother, credit for her life saying, “Because that resource was made available to my mother, she decided to give birth to me… and here I am talking to you guys 22 years later.”
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<iframe style=”float: right; border: 1px solid #000000; background-color: #C0C0C0; padding: 2px; margin: 10px; -moz-border-radius: 3px; -khtml-border-radius: 3px; -webkit-border-radius: 3px; border-radius: 3px;” width=”260″ height=”195″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/sD2FkcvIOss?rel=0″ frameborder=”0″ allowfullscreen></iframe>{/source}Dutton’s campaign to be Miss Homecoming was not about winning, but about a message. She only had the support of one club in the horticulture department (her major). She campaigned with a purpose and her story captured the hearts of Auburn students. “I was given grace to carry that story,” she said. “My story is a voice for the voiceless.” Her campaign platform reads, “Through this campaign, I hope to bring women closer to hope and life. If an Auburn woman ever finds herself in such a situation, I hope that this will not only bring to light the resources that are available to her, but that she will welcome them. When the glory and power of light is shone, the importance of life is radiated. The hope found in these resources penetrates the lives of women who have even been through trials and tribulations. It gives them something solid to stand upon.”
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<iframe style=”float: left; border: 1px solid #000000; background-color: #C0C0C0; padding: 2px; margin: 10px; -moz-border-radius: 3px; -khtml-border-radius: 3px; -webkit-border-radius: 3px; border-radius: 3px;” width=”260″ height=”195″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/i2rbFgScQt8?rel=0″ frameborder=”0″ allowfullscreen></iframe>{/source}I am tempted to respond to this story by talking about the evils of abortion and the sanctity of unborn life. But the overwhelming truth that this story speaks to my heart is from John 10:10 (ESV). “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” If you watch any of Dutton’s Homecoming campaign videos you’ll be able to hear the joy and excitement this story of redemption brings to the students of Auburn. Dr. Jim Denison often says, “God redeems all he allows.” I can’t think of a better story that illustrates this point than that of Molly Anne Dutton. Adoption is such a beautiful picture of God’s love. By no merit of our own, God chose to make us his sons and daughters.
Jesus came to give us life. Not just a normal life, but a life of abundant joy. He will indeed redeem all he has allowed, either on this side of Heaven or the other. We have this great hope, Jesus is returning and “he will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4 ESV).
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