On the other hand we have the anniversary of Roe v. Wade. An anniversary of a decision in which millions (latest estimate is 53 million to date) of people have been sacrificed for the sake of personal gain. An anniversary that devalues every human life. An anniversary that has been willing to kill to make people believe.
I spent time yesterday reading through some of Dr. King's speeches. This man of God ~ a man of tremendous faith who knew that every life was valuable and worth fighting for ~ is a hero in our day. He is a man to be upheld and thanked publicly for the good he helped to bring about in our country. Every person, no matter their skin color or ethnicity, is a human being made in the image of God and therefore deserves to know the real beauty of freedom.
I have spent many days over the past 25 years thinking about Roe v. Wade. When I was in college, before I ever thought I would find myself in a place of having to make a "choice", a friend and I were talking about abortion and the girls we'd gone to school with who had made that choice. In all my self-righteous haughtiness I sucked in a deep breath, puffed out my chest and said, "Well! If I am *ever* in that situation I would *never* dream of having an abortion! I plan to wait until I'm married to have sex, but if I ever find myself in that situation I would certainly choose adoption!"
A short 6 years later I placed a phone call to Planned Parenthood asking what my options were.
I was barely pregnant ~ not even three weeks ~ but they said I'd have to wait another 5 weeks to abort but could make my appointment now. There was no compassion. There was no understanding. There was nothing but disdain for the fact that I would be so stupid and would need their services to hide my shame.
My boyfriend thought it'd be the right choice to make, although it did come out it wasn't what he wanted...just what he thought would be best for both of us.
I couldn't think of only me.
Every second of every day I thought of the life growing inside me, and I knew I could not ever make that appointment. I know friends who, although dealing with the same thoughts, made that appointment. My heart breaks for them when they tell me their story. Not because I think they were foolish and stupid enough to render the services of a multi-billion dollar industry. Not because I think they were weak and self-centered to make that choice. Not because of my own piety. No. My heart breaks because I know what it's like to be in that position and wonder how in the world your initial choice would ever turn into something good based on the position you are now in. My heart breaks because I know what leads to making that choice.
Last night a new series began. It is called "Surrender the Secret." It is a reality show that will follow five post-abortive women through a Bible Study by the same name. Here is the trailer for it:
I encourage you, whether you are post-abortive or not, to watch this series. There are women around the world who are holding this secret close to their hearts. For those who are Christians (yes, even good Christian girls make this choice) it is a secret akin to Hester Prynne in "The Scarlet Letter." They wonder what their fellow Christians would think of them if only they knew. There is a fear of how they would be perceived and how forgiveness could really be accepted for *this* sin. In a relationship with a Savior Who says, "Come to Me all who are burdened and heavy laden and I will give you rest" their greatest fear is how their "brothers and sisters in Christ" will respond if their secret got out.
Again...heartbreaking.
I could go off on such a tangent here! I find it to be a fine line between grace and justice, but for the sake of a soul I would rather err on the side of grace....
Watch this series with me ~ let your heart be troubled for those whose hearts hold burdens they should no longer be made to bear.
Watch "Surrender the Secret" Here
No comments:
Post a Comment