Baggage #6: Past Decisions

Background: Sometimes in the past we have made decisions which may come to haunt us for the rest of our lives.  For an increasing number of women and men, both in the United States and world-wide, the decision to abort a baby will affect their happiness and relationships.  Here is the experience of one young woman with whom I became acquainted recently.

Situation:  Helena and her boyfriend were both seventeen years old.  They thought they were in love, had sex which resulted in pregnancy.  When Helena found out, she immediately told her boyfriend.  He quickly told her, "Well, we're too young to deal with this.  Let's just get an abortion."  Helena didn't think much about it and went to a Planned Parenthood 'clinic.'  She reports, "They said I would have counseling.  That consisted of them taking my $400."

She wasn't very far along and the procedure was quick.  Then afterwards she realized what she had done: killed her own baby.  She is hardly able to tell others about this, but she says, "I hope to spare them the pain I have gone through."  And also, "It took me a long time to ask God to forgive me for what I had done. . . Even now, fifteen years later, it is still hard to forgive myself."

Lessons learned:  Our culture tells us, "Everyone has the right to have sex, whenever they want, with whomever they please."  Our culture tries to hide the 'fallout' from that attitude: the diseased bodies and souls, the 56 million of our babies aborted for the convenience of their parents, the women who will never bear children (estimated 25% sterility post abortion), the grandparents deprived of grandchildren, the society deprived of potential geniuses, and on and on.

That is why we should work and pray to end abortion.  Have you known a childless couple who have tried all known methods to get pregnant, unsuccessfully, and are crying to adopt a child?  Let us take care of all the 'unwanted' babies!  Better yet, let us create a climate without all this pressure to have sex!  What do you think?

Outcome:  Helena, in time, met a decent young man, married, and has a child.  He understands how difficult it was for her to tell him her past history and deeply respects her need to speak out to help others avoid the tremendous pain she has experienced.

Oh, Lord, we pray for the wisdom and strength to help women like Helena, to give them the love and support they deserve.  Help us promote, in every way we can, a Culture of Life, chastity, and love. We yearn to spread the love we know you have for us, today and every day!