“Nearly every table set for the family gathering at Thanksgiving this year will have a missing place, if not two or more, since one in three women in America now has an abortion by age 45”
Do you get the enormity of that number? That number is 1 out of every 3 women. This includes the women in your small group, your neighborhood, and your Bible study. If there are 200 women in your church, 66 of them have experienced the tragedy personally.
Churches have voiced their opinion about abortion. These are babies whose lives have been taken from them. We call them innocent victims. But there is another victim in every abortion story. She knows that she wasn’t innocent and she knows that her church calls abortionists “baby killers”. She is ashamed and her husband of 20 years doesn’t even know. She is desperate to find healing and forgiveness and the place she is most afraid to look for it might be her very own church.
I can’t say it any better than this (also from the article referenced above):
“We who are pro-life must realize and remember that “I told you so” is not the loving response to those in mourning over their abortions. Even more important than mourning for the lost lives of those missing from the table is mourning with those in mourning who are seated there with us: our sisters, our daughters, our cousins, friends.”
We can do better. We need to do better.
To my dear friends and family who are hurting, I am so sorry. I love you.
**If you are hurting because of a past abortion and live in the Franklin, TN area Franklin Christian Church offers a confidential Bible study called Surrendering the Secret. If you are interested, the facilitator contact information can be found at this link. And then click on “other studies available upon request. All communication is completely confidential. **
Compassion is the missing link. No matter what our differing stances on abortion, we need to remember this. Well said.
such a great post, Amy. My cousin confided in me that she had had multiple abortions– and that it had impacted her reluctance to accept the free gift of salvation for years, due to the guilt. Compassion and empathy is the key– we all carry around our ‘secret’ sins. Romans 3:23
Thank you. You must have seemed like a safe person for your cousin to confide in you. Thanks for posting, Erin! I’m looking forward to seeing you in person when you visit TN next month!