Reclaiming Our Children: A Blog About Healing After Abortion

" A single soul is a whole world in the sight of God. Jesus, Himself, stopped to preach to one woman."

  St John Eudes

 

I once ate dinner with a national pro-life leader, who shared with me some reservations about those of us who are speaking out in public about post abortion regrets and trauma. What she said was, "Not you, but I think some of these women are just seeking attention. What are we supposed to do when we see a woman holding one of these signs? Applaud? Tell her how wonderful she is?" And I thought , "Huh. Then I wonder what you'll think tomorrow when you see the way the event has been arranged."

What I said was that the great majority of us are private people who are speaking out at considerable personal cost only because we feel it is our moral duty to reach out to others who hurt, and to raise awareness that for many women, abortion is very far from a convenient quick fix. It creates more problems than it solves. Nevertheless, her comment stayed with me and as we stood on the stage looking down into the vast sea of faces, I wondered how many people in the audience shared her perspective.”

I have often heard it said that women and men who are post abortive should be reached out to because they are the ones who will be instrumental in ending abortion. While this is true, we need to remember that it is not the reason why we should reach out to them. Each of these women and men are also unique in the eyes of God and loved by Him.

Many I have met over the years have asked the question “Why me?” Why did I have an abortion?”… Some in the prolife movement still lack understanding when it comes to those who have participated in abortion. The judgments continue to be there, sometimes keeping women and men away from reconciliation because of the fear of judgment.

Some in the post abortion movement are even angry with the pro life movement because of the added pain the lack of understanding inflicts. I don’t know the answers except to say “there but for the grace of God we all are capable of any sin.” God often uses our worst sins for our salvation, and even this horrific event, the killing of children, He can bring out good for both those post abortive, those who still lack understanding or like the Pharisee of the bible, judge harshly.

 

In a like manner those who speak out about their abortions should always pray for humility of heart. I understand the sentiments of that woman. Should we applaud? Should we tell her how great she is? No. We who have had abortions should always remember the mercy of God and that He is why we are forgiven. We should never forget the evil we have done and always point to Him in humility and gratitude for His forgiveness. Those of you seeing us should tell her that you are so glad she has come home to the mercy of God. You should proclaim together His unfathomable forgiveness and the evil of abortion, and pray for it's end.

Dave Reardon of the Elliot Institute says it best “I honestly believe that, short of Christ’s return, God will not bring an
end to the abortion holocaust until we Christian’s learn all that we are meant to learn, namely; a greater compassion for sinners.”(The Jericho Plan)

As we enter into this season of Lent and celebration of the mercy of God, may we all, pray for purity of intention…may we recognize we are all sinners in need of His mercy. May each woman or man be reached out to because God desires their healing, and may each post abortive man and women do everything in humility and reflect the understanding they have been shown to those who still do not understand.

If we do that, one soul at a time, God will surely take care of the rest.