No, I’m not a paid spokesperson for Gerber. However, in case you haven’t heard, Gerber chose one-year-old Lucas Warren from Dalton, Georgia, as its 2018 Gerber baby. What’s so special about that? Lucas is the first child with Down syndrome to be chosen.
Well done, Gerber!
Whether they know it or not, Gerber is showing the beauty and worth of children with Down syndrome at a time when they are being targeted for extermination because of their disability. I want to take a moment and publicly thank the company for such a benevolent gesture.
It might not seem like much, but to affirm the intrinsic value of all human life requires courage in our day and age.
Gerber is not merely being charitable with their pick. One look at baby Lucas, and anyone can easily see that this is a special child whose smile represents the best of our humanity. Check out this interview on the Today Show:
Bill Partyka, CEO and president of Gerber, said, “Every year, we choose the baby who best exemplifies Gerber’s longstanding heritage of recognizing that every baby is a Gerber baby. This year, Lucas is the perfect fit.”
Lucas’ mom, Cortney, said, “We’re hoping when he grows up and looks back on this, he’ll be proud of himself and not ashamed of his disability.”
What beautiful words. May God bless this mother and family, and especially this baby boy.
This story reminds us of the transcendent truth that we are all created in the image of God (Gen. 1:26-27). It is He who gives life. “He made us, and not we ourselves,” (Psalm 100:3). Therefore, when we respect and celebrate each other, we respect and celebrate our Maker.
When we celebrate Lucas, we celebrate God.
—
Mario Diaz, Esq. is Concerned Women for America’s legal counsel. Follow him on Twitter @mariodiazesq.