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The One who created the heavens and the earth knit my little girl together intricately in her momma’s womb.
The conversation of Down syndrome and Trisomy 21 (T21) pregnancies has been a big topic on social media and in the news recently. As the father of Evangeline (we call her Evie), a wonderful little girl with Down syndrome, I figured I’d share what’s been on my heart and mind.
Knitted together by God
For some reason, my initial reaction to the topic of terminating T21 pregnancies is to defend Evie by saying things like, “Don’t you know how much of a blessing Evie is to our family?” or “We wouldn’t change a thing about her.” Those statements are absolutely true. I could go on and on and on about how God has blessed the Furys in ways we couldn’t have even imagined by bringing sweet Evie into our lives. Evangeline has been such a light to the people who have gotten to know her. I can hardly put into writing the joy that she brings to our family and our church. Life without Evie simply wouldn’t be nearly as happy as it is for us now. I see how God uses her, at just two years old, to bring joy and goodness to us and those around us. Sometimes I tease that one day Evie will become the best evangelist at Living Stone! And I believe that will be the case.
While that kind of reasoning is good and valuable to the conversation, I’d like to share even greater truths that show why people like Evie should live.
It starts at the beginning. Psalm 139:13-17 shows us how all of our lives begin:
You created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully
made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths
of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written
in your book
before one of them came to be.
How precious to me are your thoughts, God!
How vast is the sum of them!
I can pray Psalm 139 out loud, praising God for his incredible work in creating me. You, reading this, can say this same prayer in awe and wonder. And so can Evie! Psalm 139 is Evie’s prayer too. The One who created the heavens and the earth knit little Evangeline together intricately in her momma’s womb. For me personally, that includes her heavenly Father’s will that she have a third 21st chromosome. That includes the unique features of her beautiful face. That includes the way that her muscles aren’t quite as toned as most people’s are. That includes her own timeline as she continues developing mentally and physically.
I praise you, Lord God, because my daughter is fearfully and wonderfully made! “Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
Saved by God
But still, the biggest advocate for the value and worth of Evangeline’s life is Jesus. Jesus, the same one who knit Evie together. Jesus, the same one who knows the count of every long blonde hair on her sweet little head. And yes, Jesus, the same one who thought that Evie’s life was worth dying for. The immortal, sinless God willingly was nailed to a tree. He did that for you. He did that for me. He did that for Evie.
Evie, disabilities and all, was bought “with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect” (1 Peter 1:19). Evie no longer lives for herself, but now Christ lives in her. The life she now lives in the body, she lives by faith in the Son of God, who loved her and gave himself for her (see Galatians 2:20). Evie is a precious soul for whom the Father was willing to give up his Son, his only Son (Romans 8:32), to make her his very own daughter.
The biggest advocate for the value and worth of Evangeline’s life is Jesus. Jesus, the same one who knit Evie together.
And so, Jesus speaks to little Evangeline: “I have come that [you] may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10).
The Son of God died that Evie might live. The perfect Creator of all things removed Evie’s sinful stains. The Lamb without blemish or defect bore Evie’s infirmities and sickness.
As I find myself frustrated at those who would choose to terminate the lives of babies like Evie, I remember the truths that give Evie value and make her worthy of life. These promises are also true for those people. I remember that they are also souls for whom Christ died. I remember that Jesus reconciled the world to himself, not counting people’s sins against them (see 2 Corinthians 5:19).
And so I pray that God would preserve the lives of precious souls like Evie. But most of all, I pray that more people would come to know for themselves what Evie already knows about herself—that they are beautiful and precious and worthy and valuable in Christ.
Author: Clayton Fury
Volume 113, Number 08
Issue: August 2026
Images: Lauren Fury
