Reclaiming Our Children: A Blog About Healing After Abortion

I have not seen Unplanned yet but plan to this weekend. I do know it has graphic scenes and I have already had a few calls from women who have been in recovery for years who felt traumatized after seeing the film. While I am sure it is a great movie, especiallly to educate pro choicers and those on the fence to the truth of abortion and Planned Parenthood,  it is not for everyone.

If you are post abortive and considering going to see the filn please pray and look at why you want to go before you go? It really is ok not to go if that is what you decide. In any event be forwarned there are some graphic scenes.

Here is a review by Clarissa Lapinsiki, the Project Rachel person , who facilitates the Entering Canaan Retreat model in Ohio…I thought it was one of the best things I have read on the film from a post abortive perspective.

If you haven’t seen the movie UnPlanned I will reveal parts of the movie in the paragraphs below. You may want to keep scrolling.
Last night I attended a pre screening of the movie UnPlanned with my daughter Lauren. With all the talk going on about it I wanted to say a few words as a post abortive woman. First, a confession, I really did not want to go see this movie. If you know me then you know I’m a very sensitive soul and with the work that I do every day (helping women/men who’ve had abortions) I told myself I understood full well what abortion is and what it does to women therefore I didn’t need to put myself through watching it. if it weren’t for the fact that I had the opportunity to speak to those attending I’m sure I wouldn’t have went at all. Which leads me to share with you a thing about post abortion healing. In my opinion, the more a woman heals from her abortion the more real it becomes. There is more intense grief as she develops full awareness of what she has done and a deeper sense of loss of her unborn child/children. Often when women begin the healing process they have lived years in denial and it takes time for her to allow herself to really feel the impact of her abortion/abortions. So, for me, because I am so aware, I had anxiety about seeing this movie and how I would respond especially since I was seeing it with my daughter. After all, she is in the process of her own healing journey and I was worried this would also be difficult for her. All of this made me question just how “healed” I truly was. Of course, it was the enemy but it really made me doubt.
So here are a few things I want to share about my experience. First, some of the scenes are intense as they should be. But let me say, they are depicted accurately. Maybe you think since it was on the big screen they made it more dramatic but let me tell you, if anything, it didn’t come close to just how horrifying surgical and chemical abortions are. If you’ve seen the movie take a moment to reflect on that. As I watched the scenes of the two types of abortions as well as the young girl who almost died, my heart could barley handle it. it broke for the millions of women who’ve gone through it who are now left with deep wounds that will last a lifetime. It broke for their families who would now see what they have been through. I personally know these women and their family members and their stories. They have shared them with me and I can’t tell you how deeply it hurts to not be able to take their pain away. Abortion is forever….
Second, I was very moved by the scene where they prayed over the remains of the children. It was powerful and it touched a part of my soul where my daughter lives and I wept for her and all of the other children who were killed so brutally and then discarded like trash.
Third, there was another scene where Abby is stroking her child’s head as she lays asleep in the crib and I was reminded of all that I’ve missed with my aborted daughter and also I felt a deep sense of gratitude for our new baby James despite how rough the past 3 1/2 months have been. it reminded me what I already know and we repeated out loud last night. YOU MATTER…ALL LIFE MATTERS.
Lastly, I left the movie with a couple things to pray hard for. One, that people who come to see the movie would leave with a greater compassion towards women who’ve had abortions. What they need more than anything is your love and forgiveness. Leave the judgment to God because only He knows the heart ️. Two, that people would have a greater compassion for those who work in the abortion industry and will try to build relationships with them. Most truly feel they are helping women and many, like Abby, have had abortions themselves. Three, that more people will see the need to be out on the sidewalk and sign up to train through our new SAFL program. It was their prayers and peaceful, loving presence that led Abby to them. PLEASE MESSAGE ME IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN DOING THIS OR WOULD LIKE TO BE A PRAYER PARTNER FOR THOSE THAT ARE! We will have a training coming soon!
Final thoughts…if you see this movie and it brings up painful memories please reach out to a local post abortion ministry for help. Hope and healing is possible. If you are questioning whether or not to go see this movie I would lean on the side of going…it may be hard but worth it. Whatever you decide know that God is ok with it and it doesn’t determine where you are in your healing or whether or not you care about abortion. If you do go, bring a few friends or someone who’s maybe on the fence when it comes to abortion. Be prepared for discussion afterwards and have information on post abortion healing programs in your area.
With greater resolve I will press forward to do what I can to bring Christ’s Mercy to others and to end abortion. Many times I have contemplated quitting the fight but know it is only a sign that the end is near. Abortion IS happening in a neighborhood near you. Won’t you join me in the effort to end it?