As you probably know, different anniversaries are marked by gifts of particular stones.

 According to custom, the 10th anniversary is marked by a diamond, the 20th by an emerald, the 25th with silver, and the 30th by a pearl.

 By the time married couples or others are celebrating 40 years, the gift of a ruby marks how special the anniversary is.

Unfortunately, we are rapidly approaching another 40th anniversary that is anything but joyful. It is the 40th anniversary of the Supreme Court decision of Roe v. Wade that legalized abortion in this country.

For those of us who were alive at the time, Jan. 22, 1973, is a day that will not be forgotten, but for all the wrong reasons.

Of course, we have been told over and over that the taking of the life of the unborn falls under the category of freedom of choice. And anyway, it should be available under conditions that make it safe, legal and rare. (I always wondered why no one asked why something safe and legal should also need to be rare).

Now, however, after four decades, we have a bit of historical distance to judge the results. Some of the numbers related to abortions during these 40 years should weigh heavily on our consciences.

Estimates are that that decision has resulted in more than 50  million children who have not been allowed to live since 1973.

A few calculations afford us some illustrative comparisons. To put this in perspective, the population of the state of Illinois is said to be about 12.8  million people.

Can we imagine that abortion has taken from us the lives of the population of the state of Illinois, nearly four times over?

The population of California is currently about 37.6  million people. So Illinois and California would both be completely depopulated.

The state of New York has 19  million people. The number of abortions since Roe v. Wade is about two and one half times the population of the whole state of New York.

The population of Spain is 46   million people. The population of England is about 53 million people.

You get my drift. Because of abortion, it is as though whole countries and states simply do not exist.

I suppose we can all come up with images that would describe if not capture that reality. Mine is a late fall day with grey skies, cold temperatures, barren trees, wind and no people. It describes a sense of loneliness as we head into winter.

There is another consequence that we need to keep in mind as we ponder our modern slaughter of the innocents. It is the often unspoken pain and regret of the women who have had abortions.

A later rethinking of the decision, the pain of conscience and perhaps even reflection on abandonment by the father or other pressures that led to the abortion can bring about a lifetime of regret. For this too, we need to pray and offer our support especially to the women who suffer in silence from past abortions.

I was asked recently if I expect our abortion laws to be changed or abolished any time soon. Legal scholars or sociologists can probably answer that question better than I.

I certainly do not see an end to the legal protection for abortion in my lifetime, even as we continue to work toward this necessary goal. But this makes it all the more necessary for us to pray, to offer alternatives and help, and especially to fortify our young people with the knowledge, judgment and values that respect innocent human life at all stages.

Rubies are beautiful and precious stones. Here’s my prayer that other 40th anniversaries will better merit their value and importance.