Everyone makes mistakes. God comforts women who keep silent about their abortions. Will you embrace the hurting too?
Lynn sobbed. “I don’t think even God could forgive me.” (Names have been changed.)
After high school, Lynn and I lost contact. I hope she found healing. She had an abortion our senior year, and she never knew I knew about it. Our mutual friend Suzanne told me before the abortion. So I gave Suzanne my two cents. “Be sure to check with the Better Business Bureau and make sure the clinic is a good one. We don’t want Lynn to get hurt.”
Or die.
I didn’t know then what I know now: Women who have abortions are in desperate need of healing. If I had known, I would have yelled, laid down in front of her car, anything to truly help Lynn.
Lynn, Suzanne and I were best friends, so why didn’t we talk about it? Before or after? Were we. . .
Too embarrassed?
Too proud?
Too stupid?
All of the above?
Lynn thought she was doing the right thing. She had plans to go to college and start a career then a family. Her boyfriend didn’t want to get married. Neither did she. The women at Planned Parenthood told her that her unborn baby was a blob of tissue.
In churches today, women rarely share the stories of their abortions. Women are far more likely to admit problems with depression or anxiety, a rebellious kid, a messed-up marriage, infertility, or a miscarriage.
Why?
I suspect a big reason is fear of condemnation from fellow Christians. The cold shoulder. Questions regarding qualifications to serve. Gossip. Yet the Bible says, “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).
Do you want to help make your church a safe place to share painful secrets of abortion?
1. Start with prayer. Ask God to bring a hurting woman into your life.
2. If you’re a woman who had an abortion, give your Christian sisters the benefit of the doubt.
3. Ask God to send you a compassionate woman whom you can trust.
4. Listen well and with empathy.
You Are Blessed!
