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“We Will See Joshua in Heaven:” How My Kids Reacted When I Told Them Mommy Had an Abortion
Life News ^ | 9/11/14 | Ashley Sigrest

Posted on 09/11/2014 11:07:52 AM PDT by wagglebee

Once the Lord began pressing on my heart to have our kids involved with our pro-life ministry, I knew it was only a matter of time before I had to confess my deepest, darkest secret to them.

AshleySigrest

It was hard telling family and friends, because deep inside you still fear their judgment and disappointment. I know Christ has forgiven me, healed me and made me new. I don’t worry any longer about what others think of my past, but I have feared looking into my children’s eyes and seeing the hurt and confusion of why their mommy killed her baby.

For the last few years, we’ve taken them to the abortion clinic to pray and told them what abortion was. Very simply we stated that it’s when a mommy chooses to have her baby taken from her tummy before it’s time, and the baby dies.

This has always hurt their sweet, sensitive hearts, but it’s driven them to pray for an end to abortion even at such a tender age. Any time they’ve had questions we’ve answered them in the simplest, most appropriate way for their maturity.

God has told me I need to stand outside our local abortion clinic with a sign that says, “I regret my abortion.” I haven’t been able to do that with them around because Brady can read. So yesterday I sat them down and confessed to them.

I told them something very bad happened to mommy and I got pregnant at 18. I was scared, confused and—even though I knew it was wrong—I had an abortion.

Brady told me he was surprised, but he wasn’t mad at me. Rylan was excited to learn that he was named after his big brother Joshua. They asked a few questions like, “Where would Joshua sleep if he were alive?” “Would you homeschool him or would he go to high school?”

It made me giggle and brought me comfort, but I told them we can’t focus on the “what ifs” because they can end up making us depressed or angry and they don’t change the past.

Instead we will focus on Christ. He’s redeemed mommy and He’s called us to speak the truth about abortion and to help others come to know the saving grace of Jesus.

Then Rylan looked right at me and exclaimed, “We will see Joshua in Heaven!” To which Brady responded, “Yes! Because he’s safe with God!”

I asked them if they forgave me and Brady so gently answered, “I’ll always forgive you for anything.” And my heart beamed as my tears flowed.

It wasn’t nearly as hard as I imagined it would be. I’m glad I told them now rather than waiting until they were teenagers. They know they can always ask me questions and we don’t have to keep Joshua a secret. He is real. He exists. He is loved!

Sunday is the 16-year anniversary of my abortion and it’s sad and weird to think I would be getting ready to take him to get his driver’s license! I will always miss and grieve him. Joshua is as much a part of my life as his four siblings.

I don’t have to let depression and self-hate eat me up. I can cry out to Jesus when missing Joshua hurts too bad; I can hold my head up high, talk about my son and give his life honor. I can do this only because of Jesus and the redeeming Blood He shed for my sins.

Memorial for Unborn Children

LifeNews Note: Ashley Sigrest is the author of My Jesus Journey, an inspirational blog about living a Christian life, and a friend of Bound4LIFE, where this article originally appeared.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: abortion; moralabsolutes; postabortivewomen; prolife
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I don’t have to let depression and self-hate eat me up. I can cry out to Jesus when missing Joshua hurts too bad; I can hold my head up high, talk about my son and give his life honor. I can do this only because of Jesus and the redeeming Blood He shed for my sins.

Amen!

1 posted on 09/11/2014 11:07:52 AM PDT by wagglebee
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To: Coleus; narses; Salvation
Pro-Life Ping
2 posted on 09/11/2014 11:09:01 AM PDT by wagglebee ("A political party cannot be all things to all people." -- Ronald Reagan, 3/1/75)
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To: 185JHP; 230FMJ; AKA Elena; APatientMan; Albion Wilde; Aleighanne; Alexander Rubin; ...
Moral Absolutes Ping!

Freepmail wagglebee to subscribe or unsubscribe from the moral absolutes ping list.

FreeRepublic moral absolutes keyword search
[ Add keyword moral absolutes to flag FR articles to this ping list ]


3 posted on 09/11/2014 11:10:25 AM PDT by wagglebee ("A political party cannot be all things to all people." -- Ronald Reagan, 3/1/75)
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To: wagglebee
Matthew 12:

22 Then a blind and dumb demoniac was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the dumb man spoke and saw. 23 And all the people were amazed, and said, “Can this be the Son of David?” 24 But when the Pharisees heard it they said, “It is only by Be-el′zebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.” 25 Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand; 26 and if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand? 27 And if I cast out demons by Be-el′zebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. 28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 29 Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house. 30 He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters. 31 Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 And whoever says a word against the Son of man will be forgiven; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

4 posted on 09/11/2014 11:13:45 AM PDT by NorthMountain
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To: wagglebee

Christ redeems all who seek Him


5 posted on 09/11/2014 11:16:48 AM PDT by Viennacon (ILLEGALS ARE VIRAL WEAPONS!!)
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To: wagglebee

OK, now this is creepy.

I can understand the hurt and guilt of having an abortion, but projecting it to this extreme degree on little children is too much.

Mom needs counseling, prayers, a need to know she’s been forgiven. And to leave her kids alone.


6 posted on 09/11/2014 11:17:47 AM PDT by Responsibility2nd (NO LIBS. This Means Liberals and (L)libertarians! Same Thing. NO LIBS!!)
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To: Responsibility2nd
I didn't take it that way. I believe she knows that she's been forgiven. She needed to tell her kids because she wanted to be able to hold up a sign saying that she regretted her abortion.
7 posted on 09/11/2014 11:22:21 AM PDT by wagglebee ("A political party cannot be all things to all people." -- Ronald Reagan, 3/1/75)
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To: wagglebee

Beautiful, wonderous redemption!


8 posted on 09/11/2014 11:23:30 AM PDT by Jan_Sobieski (Sanctification)
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To: Responsibility2nd
Mom needs counseling, prayers, a need to know she’s been forgiven. And to leave her kids alone.

No, she did the right thing.

Better to deal with this up-front, for the reasons stated, then to wait until one of them questions her by finding out on their own.

It is best to get in front of our sins and responsibilities, rather than have them catch up to us and have more damage done.
9 posted on 09/11/2014 11:23:40 AM PDT by SoConPubbie (Mitt and Obama: They're the same poison, just a different potency)
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To: Responsibility2nd

She knew/knows she is forgiven. Did you read the entire article?

She told the kids because she is involved in a public, pro-life ministry. She did nothing wrong.

What if she miscarried 16 years ago, instead? Is it ok that the children know they had a sibling that entered Heaven that way?

(I’m sure she would appreciate your prayers, though) :)


10 posted on 09/11/2014 11:25:19 AM PDT by Reddy (B.O. stinks)
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To: SoConPubbie

Maybe when the kids are grown, she could tell them - as a moral lesson.

But not while they’re young. God has forgiven her so leave well enough alone.

If the children question her directly about it, then she could deal with it.

People hang out their dirty laundry too much, IMO. Everyone has things in their past of which they are ashamed. Ask God for forgiveness (and if there is aggrieved party, ask them for forgiveness), then move on.


11 posted on 09/11/2014 11:41:50 AM PDT by randita ("Is a nation without borders a nation?"...Noonan)
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To: wagglebee

God forgives sin, Jesus told the woman taken in adultery, “go and sin no more”.


12 posted on 09/11/2014 11:44:34 AM PDT by Graybeard58 (Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.)
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To: randita
If the children question her directly about it, then she could deal with it.

I still think it is better to get in front of it.

Better for the parent and the kids if Mom picks the "battlefield" and sets the stage vs. the possible consequences of the kids finding out about it from someone else.
13 posted on 09/11/2014 11:49:02 AM PDT by SoConPubbie (Mitt and Obama: They're the same poison, just a different potency)
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To: randita

She can tell them when they are ADULTS.
What kind of friggin’ sicko does that to her little kids????

Oh, the same one that didn’t want to deal with a child. She dumped that. Now she can dump her guild on to her children.

Disgusting is all I can think of.


14 posted on 09/11/2014 11:59:54 AM PDT by CPONav
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To: wagglebee

Once the Lord began pressing on my heart to have our kids involved with our pro-life ministry, I knew it was only a matter of time before I had to confess my deepest, darkest secret to them.

Why? Christ’s forgiveness was not enough? I don’t get it.


15 posted on 09/11/2014 12:46:10 PM PDT by TalBlack (Evil doesn't have a day job.)
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To: wagglebee
Children should be spared some things...at least until they are old enough to comprehend.

Why do adults think they have to share adult problems with children?

Children know too much about "Two Daddies" and "Two Mommies" but can't recite a nursery rhyme.

Children deserve to be as carefree as possible!

16 posted on 09/11/2014 12:54:43 PM PDT by lonestar (It takes a village of idiots to elect a village idiot.)
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To: wagglebee
I know Christ has forgiven me,

Why would Christ forgive her for such a sin?

She threw away God's most precious gift to her knowing it was a sin and then to assuage her own guilt, she says she's sorry........?

So how does this work exactly? Let's say she for some unsaid reason decides to have another abortion and thru yet another epiphany asks God or Christ for forgiveness. Will Christ forgive her again?

17 posted on 09/11/2014 1:02:42 PM PDT by Hot Tabasco (Don't harsh my buzz bro......)
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To: Hot Tabasco
1 John 1:

5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not live according to the truth; 7 but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Psalm 25:

4 Make me to know thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths. 5 Lead me in thy truth, and teach me, for thou art the God of my salvation; for thee I wait all the day long. 6 Be mindful of thy mercy, O Lord, and of thy steadfast love, for they have been from of old. 7 Remember not the sins of my youth, or my trangressions; according to thy steadfast love remember me, for thy goodness’ sake, O Lord!

18 posted on 09/11/2014 1:19:09 PM PDT by NorthMountain
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To: Hot Tabasco
She threw away God's most precious gift to her...

Sorry, but you must understand that God's most precious gift (to all of us) is the gift of his son Jesus Christ. And it is because of the sacrifice of this most precious gift - Jesus, that ALL other sin's can be forgiven.

Christ took on the punishment for all the sins of all who believe - even those who have aborted their children, disrespected their parents, or called another "fool".

19 posted on 09/11/2014 1:25:35 PM PDT by jonno (Having an opinion is not the same as having the answer...)
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To: Hot Tabasco
Will Christ forgive her again?

Sorry, I didn't address this question.

This (imo) is one of those "thou shall not judge" areas. Why? Because no one can truly know another's thoughts and motivations.

If someone is repentant, and asks forgiveness, then I would have the opinion that their sin is forgiven. But in the end, only God knows the heart of each of us, and he will judge accordingly and justly.

Perhaps the larger question is whether WE can forgive another's sin (against us or otherwise). For this I try to remember the question put the Christ: "how many times should I forgive my brother - seven times?" and Christ answered basically, "not seven times, but SEVENTY times seven" (Matt 18:21,22).

This is our calling: forgive - hundreds of times if necessary; the blood of Christ is sufficient to cover it all.

20 posted on 09/11/2014 1:41:46 PM PDT by jonno (Having an opinion is not the same as having the answer...)
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