For the Love of LIFE!

Tomorrow is Sanctity of Human Life Sunday. This day always falls on the Sunday closest to the anniversary of Roe vs. Wade. Today, January 22nd, marks the date that abortion was legalized in the United States. It is the 38th anniversary.

Over the past several days I have read a few articles that center around abortion, choosing life, and what people are doing about both. I have read about a doctor who performs abortions illegally and keeps the contents stored in jars. Human body parts in jars. I have read about a couple that did IVF and then got pregnant with twin boys. Since they wanted a girl, they decided to terminate their pregnancy of these baby boys in hopes to get pregnant with a little girl. This couple had suffered the loss of a baby girl shortly before getting pregnant with the twins. They were quoted saying that they "deserved a little luck" and this was their "right." This case is sad but the fact is that many women choose to have abortions for all different reasons. Many women feel justified in whatever their reason is.

Approximately 40 million abortions are performed each year. That represents A LOT of babies but it also represents A LOT of women. It is horrific if you really think about what abortion is. Let me tell you what it is not....

*It is not "the easy way out"
*It is not something you can just forget about
*It (the baby) is not "just a ball of cells"
*It is not a decision that only affects the mother

It is murder. It is, in many ways, a permanent solution to a temporary "problem." It is heart breaking to think of what happened to an innocent baby. It is also heart breaking for many years for the mother (and many times father) who chose the procedure. It is physically, emotionally, and often times spiritually difficult...and let me just say, that's putting it mildly.

Jane Roe (Norma McCorvey) wanted to have an abortion. She was not allowed to according to state law. She fabricated a story that she had been raped since Texas state law said that a women could have an abortion if she had been raped. She had no evidence and later admitted that she made up the story. After getting two lawyers, ultimately giving birth, and three years later, abortion became legalized in the United States - January 22, 1973. This was Norma's 3rd pregnancy...all of which she had placed for adoption.

Eventually, McCorvey's views about abortion changed. She stated that she signed a piece of paper giving women the "right." What those lawyers did not tell her was that women would be coming up to her for several years thanking her for giving them the chance to have multiple abortions. She attempted to overturn Roe vs Wade but her petition was denied. She became a Christian and now considers herself "100% prolife." Here is an excerpt from one of her books,

"But a few weeks after my conversion, I was sitting in O.R.'s offices when I noticed a fetal development poster. The progression was so obvious, the eyes were so sweet. It hurt my heart, just looking at them.

I ran outside and finally, it dawned on me. "Norma," I said to myself, "They're right." I had worked with pregnant women for years. I had been through three pregnancies and deliveries myself. I should have known. Yet something in that poster made me lose my breath. I kept seeing the picture of that tiny, 10-week-old embryo, and I said to myself, that's a baby! It's as if blinders just fell off my eyes and I suddenly understood the truth--that's a baby!

I felt "crushed" under the truth of this realization. I had to face up to the awful reality. Abortion wasn't about 'products of conception.' It wasn't about 'missed periods.' It was about children being killed in their mother's wombs. All those years I was wrong. Signing that affidavit, I was wrong. Working in an abortion clinic, I was wrong. No more of this first trimester, second trimester, third trimester stuff. Abortion--at any point--was wrong. It was so clear. Painfully clear."

McCorvey now has a ministry called Roe No More Ministry and speaks on behalf of babies and women all over the United States who have been destroyed by abortion.

I did not know this about Roe vs Wade until I recently did some research.  She is ABSOLUTELY allowing God to "work all things for good" because she loves him and recognizes that she is forgiven and loved by God.  This realization is so hard for those that have had abortions.  They feel broken, unworthy, unlovable (by anyone, especially God), and destroyed.  It is a decision that you cannot take back, but choosing what to do with the experience is what is important. 

You see, I had an abortion.  November 25, 1998.  I was 17 years old in need of direction and spirtiual guidance...something that was seriously absent at that time in my life.  I was a Christian.  I knew it was wrong but I didn't think about that at the time.  I needed a solution and EVERYONE told me what I should do.  So I did.  I regret it every. single. day!  I have so many "issues" in the area of self-esteem, self-confidence, and feeling loveble....most of which I attribute to my choice to end the life of my unborn baby.  It is something that I am not proud of but God has said that I must share this about myself in order to help others.  That is what Romans 8:28 is all about!! 

Just this past year, God spoke VERY vividly to me and said that I had to stop allowing Satan to control this part of my life.  I had made a very bad choice with very bad circumstances but for almost 12 years, I had allowed Satan to tell me that if anyone (besides those that already knew) ever found out, they wouldn't love me anymore.  I believed that with all my heart.  After weeks of struggling with this, I finally gave it to God and allowed Him to work.

I am now a certified leader for Surrendering the Secret - a post abortion Bible study that promotes healing and hope to women who have had an abortion(s).  I went through the 8 week study and have allowed God to use me through speaking at church to a group of women.  I have done the study with one other girl at church and on February 7th, we will start another group.  She is now a co-leader with me.  I am so honored to be able to not only help other women heal but to spread the news of the Gospel as well, because Surrendering the Secret does that so well!

God is a forgiving and loving God.  He can forgive ANYTHING if we ask and call on Him.  That has taken me a long time to realize but I am so blessed to hold onto this truth now!! 

Here is a video of a song that Matthew West has recently released that he wrote after a post-abortive woman shared her story with him. 

"For as high as the heavens are above the earth, great is his love for who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us."
 Psalm 103:11-12