It has been a monumental week. One for the history books. I wonder how it will be perceived, in ten or twenty years, when it is being taught as history. Where will you say you were, literally and figuratively? I think many of us will remember where we were when we heard the news that Roe v. Wade had been overturned by the Supreme Court. We will remember where we were physically, and where we were emotionally in response to the news. I had just gotten in my vehicle to drive to an appointment, and a friend contacted me that the ruling was being handed down that moment and proceeded to give me the details as they were released. I immediately texted my husband and several friends, still not having fully absorbed what had just taken place, and began to drive. It hit me just down the road, when this passage came to mind and brought tears to my eyes:
“And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.” And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them. But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying out in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant, and they said to him, “Do you hear what these are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes; have you never read, “‘Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise’?”
Overturned. Jesus overturned the evil being done. The children praised Him. And the blind and lame came to Jesus and were healed.
To the woman struggling with a past abortion: You are not alone. I frequently talk with women who are broken over a past decision to have an abortion. Many have compartmentalized their experience and repressed the emotions and mental struggles that followed. Many admit an inability to “mentally go there”. Now there will be many women who suddenly are having to reconcile that a decision they made in the past, a decision that they were told by our culture was the right thing to do, is now illegal in many states. They are suddenly in a position of being pushed to “mentally go there” because, if abortion is now illegal in many states, that means there is a reason it is wrong. I encourage you to talk with someone who will be a safe place to process and heal. In case you are not aware, pregnancy centers offer post abortion healing programs. I encourage you to reach out to your local pregnancy center for this service. You will be loved and cared for. You will be respected and heard. You will not be judged and will be welcomed. There is also Abortion Changes You, an online resource to begin the process of healing.
To pregnant moms currently facing a pregnancy decision: You are valued, and there is hope and help. Take some time to think through all of your options. There are pregnancy centers that are committed to every client being treated with respect, kindness, compassion, and always given honest and open answers. Find a pregnancy center. They will listen to your concerns and fears, as well as talk through all of your options in a non-judgmental, safe place. If you prefer to talk to someone online, then reach out to Option Line. And see if there is an Embrace Grace group near you. You have a community of people ready and waiting to encourage and walk this path with you.
To the women advocating for abortion and calling for men to stand up: I wholeheartedly agree that we need men to stand up. Jazmine Sullivan stated at the BET Awards, “This is everybody’s issue” and “I want to speak directly to the men. We need y’all. We need y’all to stand up — stand up for us, stand up with us”. But interestingly, up until now, men have been told by abortion advocates to sit down when it came to speaking about abortion. Why is it suddenly different now? Why is it suddenly acceptable for men to speak up, and the idea applauded, by those in favor of abortion? Well, I agree that we need men to stand up and stand with us; but in contrast, I assert that they never should have been told to sit down. Standing up for what is right should never be limited to those that agree with you. Reasoning and arguments do not have a gender, and everyone should be treated with respect and dignity as they stand up for what is right and wrong. Thank God there have been men that have continued to stand for life, despite being disrespected and mocked. They are heroes, and their courage and passion to do what is right should be applauded. Now we need men, that bought the lie that they should not have a voice, to stand with us as well- You matter and your voice is needed in this life and death conversation.
To those, on both sides of the issue, that are yelling at others and unwilling to listen: Please listen and seek to be teachable. Make the other person feel heard and treat them with respect. Listen to the woman that is scared about what this means and hear her concerns and hurts. Listen to the person that is celebrating the decision and ask them why they believe abortion is wrong. Truly listen. Converse respectfully. Encourage one another. You will likely learn something from the other person.
Lord Jesus, thank you for your mercy and love. Thank you that you continue to rescue. Thank you that while, as a culture, we deserved you to walk away and leave us to our own evil devices, you still came in and flipped the tables. Lord, do it again. Please flip the tables on every evil and deceptive practice in our country and in the world. Lord, remove spiritual blinders to truth. Lord, be with those that are struggling and hurting. I pray that You will draw them close and be their healing. Guide them to those that will be a safe place for them to heal. Lord, be with Your people and equip them to stand for life and for truth in a way that reflects Your love. Strengthen us and give us Your peace as we move forward. Lord, You have no rival or equal, and we give you all of the glory for this victory.
This is wonderful Tina. It’s filled with compassion, truth, love, and useful information. Thank you for taking your time to write and post.