Posted on 03/23/2010 4:06:18 PM PDT by wagglebee
Commentary by David Bereit, National Coordinator, 40 Days for Life
March 23, 2010 (40DaysforLife) - As this 40 Days for Life campaign continues, the need for prayer for an end to abortion grows clearer each day -- as does the need to pray for healing for those whose lives have been turned upside down because of their experiences with the pain caused by abortion.
Lynda said that through her efforts with 40 Days for Life, she often meets both women and men "who come to confess an earlier and much regretted decision to have an abortion."
She had one person tell her, "I always wonder what my daughter's sister would look like."
"It's so sad," she said. "There are so many broken hearts; so much emptiness. There was a person who came to me in tears saying how sorry she was about her decision so many years ago. We must continue to pray."
Nancy's story is typical of what many 40 Days for Life vigil participants are hearing.
"I was pregnant -- but not by the man I had lived with for the previous years," she said. An older friend -- whom she considered wiser and more experienced -- recommended abortion. "No one spoke for the life of my preborn."
Nancy is one of the millions who regret their abortions. Thankfully, she found healing in Christ.
The message that healing is indeed possible is part of the 40 Days for Life witness at many of the vigils.
There's a photo of the 40 Days for Life vigil in Everett, Washington that illustrates that. Prayer volunteers are carrying signs from the Silent No More Awareness Campaign that read, "Women do regret abortion" and "Men regret lost fatherhood."
"Praying in front of Planned Parenthood has drawn me closer to the cross than I've ever been before in my life," wrote Julie. "Twenty years ago, I had an abortion. I never knew the power of prayer until now."
For years, she said, the pain, shame and all that goes with it had been buried deep within her. "This year, God called me to 40 Days for Life and I was listening."
She broke down while praying at the vigil. Two days later, "I made a complete confession and turned my life over to God, completely.
"I know I still have a long way to go in healing," Julie said, "but I can't express what it feels like to be forgiven. Thank you for your encouragement and thanks to all of the participants of 40 Days for Life. I could not have done this alone."
"I was in the same situation some 30 years ago," explained Alicia. "I was filled with such unimaginable guilt." It took years for her to finally listen to God and actually accept His forgiveness -- and forgive herself.
"I thank God that this beautiful ministry exists," she said, "and will continue until the end of abortion comes to pass."
This article reprinted with permission from www.40daysforlife.com
She broke down while praying at the vigil. Two days later, "I made a complete confession and turned my life over to God, completely.
"I know I still have a long way to go in healing," Julie said, "but I can't express what it feels like to be forgiven. Thank you for your encouragement and thanks to all of the participants of 40 Days for Life. I could not have done this alone."
What an amazing testimony!
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May God bless these brave women.
I stood beside a woman today outside our local killing station. Although she came to pray for the babies, she had had an abortion many years ago. She cried softly, still carrying the sorrow of that decision. Women think that once the baby is gone, they can go on with their lives. You can never forget a living soul that once was alive within you. Never.
It’s a crying shame that Stanley Obama (or whatever the hell her name was) didn’t.
I miss Henry Hyde so much.
Over a third of women born after the mid-1950s have had an abortion, many of them regret it but are still unable to confess. I think it’s always important at pro-life events to be aware that some of the women there are dealing with profound guilt.
Sometimes God uses bad to work good. This appears to be one of those times. Bless this sister.
50,000,000 babies aborted in the US since 1973. About the same number as were killed during WWII in the entire world. If that’s not genocide, than what is. What will Mr. Stupak say when he faces his G-d. However, looks like he’s already sold his soul to Satan.
Correction: About the same number as the total of people killed during WWII in the entire world.
Indeed. They can be some of the best sidewalk counselors just by being honest about the sorrow abortion has brought to their own lives.
I don’t agree. It was the way that he was raised that was the problem. Killing him would have been murder.
Worldwide there are just over 50 million abortions each year, which is the total number of people killed in WWII.
Each year about 1.4 million Americans are killed in abortuaries, that is MORE Americans than have died in all of the wars America has fought in COMBINED.
In the past century over ONE BILLION babies have been killed in abortuaries worldwide, that is more human beings than have died in all of the wars, famines, plagues, acts of genocide and natural disasters in the history of the world COMBINED.
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Agreed. We all make mistakes. We all sin. "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive others".
You bring up a good point.
Had that happened, we would likely not be having this conversation, today.
Our Constitution and Freedom would probably not be under assault.
I have two sons now. In my heart I know one of them is the living incarnation of the would-be thirty two year old.
Mine would have been 28...I feel the loss every day!
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