SOHL Sunday ~ January 20, 2013

Did you know that tomorrow is SOHL Sunday? Every January a quiet anniversary is observed across our country on the Sunday closest to the 22nd, which marks the landmark Roe v. Wade. Christians gather to remember a turning point in our nation’s history, designating that Sunday as Sanctity Of Human Life Sunday. All across this land: from Washington State, to Texas, to Florida; from California to Ohio, to New Jersey, congregations pause to value life. During this week some folks will even head to their state capitals with balloons and children in strollers to make a statement on the value of LIFE.

I remember back in 1973, when I was a freshman in college and the Supreme Court ruled abortion should be legal in all 50 states. Since then, much sadness and loss has cloaked our communities, one woman at a time. Abortion causes a hidden grief, one that is better masked with rhetoric and politely glossed over. Though you can sometimes sense its pain in people’s eyes, it is easy to pretend it doesn’t exist. We go about our daily lives, usually oblivious to the walking wounded beside us. Abortion has damaged the hearts of so many around us; women at work, at school, in our families and sitting in the pew next to us. Their stories are important and their emotional wounds are very real.

Now, this post is not intended as a political statement. I believe that NO American feels that abortion is a good thing. There are passionate opinions on both sides of the issue, and my goal is not to excoriate or exonerate either position. I don’t wish to report statistics, though many abound. Suffice it to say, that a million babies still die each year and that same number of women are impacted emotionally, spiritually and physically.

My intent today is simply to share hope and denounce judgment. I long to impart what I’ve learned about how abortion hurts women. For over eight years, I ministered to women and their families as they faced life-and-death decisions regarding their unborn children. Their struggles are forever etched on my heart.

Serving as a pregnancy care center director, I listened to their stories, validating their feelings and offering a variety of community services and assistance. You see, when a woman faces an unplanned pregnancy, her life is suddenly turned upside down and inside out! Living in the South, I equate it with falling into a “SINK HOLE” of epic proportions, with no grab bar to break her fall. She needs real choices and the support of loved ones and friends. You see, fear and despair are what frequently “drive” a woman to an abortion clinic.

Often times the father of the child is un-involved or absent. Consequently, loneliness and desperation can cloud a woman’s thinking and make it nearly impossible to consider other choices such as parenting or adoption. The travesty of abortion, however, it that it is not the quick or easy solution it’s touted to be. There is no magic eraser that will “undo” a crisis pregnancy, no “cost-free” choice. For forty years, millions of women have carried a grief no one should bear. And the loss of a child always changes the mother.

But the Good News is that Jesus heals that kind of pain! He is the forgiver of our souls and the healer of our hearts! He knows everything about us and is able to address our need like no one else can.

Do you know someone who is hurting from a past abortion experience? Pray for her or him. Ask Jesus to cover them with His grace and begin healing in their hearts. Don’t be afraid to talk about abortion. Always refer to it with empathy, because it is an incredibly painful decision to deal with. Learn about the alternatives offered at non-profit organizations like CareNet in Kingsland. You never know who has an abortion experience in her past, so don’t judge and be careful with your words. Hurting women have been further wounded by over hearing callous remarks.

Be prepared to offer the truth about Jesus and how He longs to restore broken hearts and heal the abortion wound that many grieve. In fact, the Bible tells us to “Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter.” (Proverbs 24:11) Kindness and tenderness are the best rescuing tools I know!

Let’s not turn our backs on those who are struggling with unplanned pregnancies. Sacrifice your time and resources so that women won’t feel so alone, and so they might consider life-affirming options. Together we can mobilize a Culture of LIFE by volunteering at, or giving to, pregnancy care centers that help women. Remember that:
Women deserve better than abortion.