Beauty from Ashes...

My mother shared her personal story regarding her abortion at church one time. She started by going over the history of abortion and then courageously talked about her pregnancies, two choices she would never stop regretting, and her journey to allow Christ to carry that sin and experience His unconditional love.  Man do I remember that day.  She was SO nervous.  She tried to cancel with the pastor but they encouraged her not to let the devil win through following her fear.  Her story needed to be told.  And boy was that true, and is that true for every woman hiding in shame that never got to mourn the loss of a life that mattered and was lost.   So she shared. Scared to death.  Sharing within a post-abortive support group to find healing and wholeness (offered through Christian ministries) was her first BIG step.  The biggest benefit to walking that path-You can reach out to women who have had abortions and point to the God who comforts, forgives, and redeems w/ supernatural means. Of even greater urgency, you can encourage others who may be abortion vulnerable to say yes to life, and no to death!  That pursuit carries with it no trivial potential.  To be able to relate to the position of terror, of being in the worst circumstances, or facing judgment, of a baby messing up the best laid plans or whatever it is.....and say, "I've been there.  PLEASE don't believe you don't have a choice.  You do.  I thought I HAD to do it and I've had to spend decades looking back knowing that was a lie.  LET YOUR BABY LIVE....I BEG YOU TO SEE THAT'S THE BEST CHOICE!!"  I just got an email from someone who was facing an unplanned pregnancy in really unfavorable circumstances and she happened to hear my mom speak that day.  Here is her email:
           " I was thinking about people who have made a huge difference in my life and I thought of your mom! So, since I can't tell her (even though I know she knows) I figured I'd tell you. The only reason I have my son today is because of your mom's testimony at church one day! Thank you God!"

Do I really need to say more? No.  

Wait! Just this one last thing from Isaiah 61, a prophesy describing the ministry that the messiah, Jesus would embody.

"1The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,

because the Lord has anointed me

to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim freedom for the captives

and release from darkness for the prisoners,^a

2to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor

and the day of vengeance of our God,

to comfort all who mourn,

3and provide for those who grieve in Zion—

to bestow on them a crown of beauty

instead of ashes,

the oil of joy

instead of mourning,

and a garment of praise

instead of a spirit of despair.

They will be called oaks of righteousness,

a planting of the Lord

for the display of his splendor."