Reclaiming Our Children: A Blog About Healing After Abortion

Sometimes I can forget just how blessed I am. It is so easy to look at what we don’t have and completely take for granted the things that we do have.

Recently I have been reflecting on mothers. Although it is often not cherished in our society, there truly is no more important vocation as guiding and teaching a child in this world.

All moms want the best for their children. It does not matter who or where we are, how much money we have or our social status, we all want what is best for our children.

One of my sons is a journalist and often shares with me things he is writing about. Today he shared about the all but forgotten civil war in Yemen and the devastation it has had on the people there where child malnutrition has spiked by 200 percent. I can’t even imagine the pain of those mothers as they watch their children suffering.

Yesterday, I gave a retreat to our Good Counsel moms.  Having chosen life, they too are worried and trying to better their lives for their children, often fighting against the tide of what life has dealt them, but courageously moving forward.

I was a single parent, I remember well the pain I felt when I could not afford to give my kids the things that many others were getting, but in the end all turned out well.

Today as we celebrate the Immaculate Conception of Mary, I of course am thinking of her and her life too. It was not an easy life but one filled with trust in God in spite of the circumstances she faced. She also must have seen all thing clearly, unclouded by sin and so I am sure all the more painful, but her heart belonged to God and there she took refuge knowing of His love for mankind.

Yesterday at the end of the day, our moms placed hearts on our tree to symbolize giving their hearts to Jesus and trusting in His care for them.

As I contemplate the mystery of the Immaculate Conception today, I will especially remember mother throughout the world who are suffering and longing for peace for their children…I know Mary joins me in that prayer.