40 Days for Life: DAY 40: “An abortion would scar me forever”

Dear Deacon, I just got home from closing events in Wisconsin ... where they fed me fried cheese curds (look it up if you aren't aware of these) and bratwurst. But the highlight was meeting a mom who chose life for her baby during a previous 40 Days for Life campaign ... and now goes out to pray at the vigil! Today is Day 40, and I have just one story -- a very powerful story. I’ll keep her identity and location confidential … but here’s the story, in her own words, of how hearts are changing ... one at a time. I WANT THEM TO KNOW I found out five weeks ago that I was pregnant. My immediate reaction was -- have the baby. The pregnancy was unplanned, and the father of that child-to-be was no longer a part of my life. The morning after I found out I was pregnant, I started realizing what bringing a child into this world would mean for ME and MY life and MY future. I wasn't thinking about the life being created inside of me. I started thinking about abortion. I have always been pro-choice, and most of the people in my life are as well. When I told the father, he said he could not have a baby -- but he would pay for the abortion. When I started telling other people about my situation, most said I would be insane to have the baby. Logically, I felt like they were right. I am in no position currently to raise a child. But in my heart, I knew having an abortion would scar me forever. I made an appointment for a medical abortion at Planned Parenthood for the following week. Giving birth to a child would certainly change my life, and I knew I wasn't ready for that. But I started researching what my options were. If I had the baby, I could keep it or give it up for adoption and give a family the greatest gift of their lives. And I started considering how an abortion would affect me. I knew I would regret it and never forgive myself. I decided to have the baby and cancelled my appointment at Planned Parenthood; but I didn't tell many people because they would think I was crazy and try to discourage me. I felt so good about my decision. I started reading “Unplanned,” by Abby Johnson. [Note: Abby is the former director of the Planned Parenthood abortion center in College Station, Texas, who quit her job after witnessing an ultrasound-guided abortion. She is now involved in pro-life outreach.] About a week and a half after I found out I was pregnant, I had a miscarriage. I was devastated. I didn't realize how excited I was about the life growing inside of me until it was no longer there. This has been one of the most traumatic experiences of my life. But I realized through it how wrong abortion is. I want everyone to know this too! I stopped reading the book when I had the miscarriage, but I just picked it up again a couple days ago.  I want to get involved in a big way. I want to help women with their decision. I want them to know they would not be crazy to have a baby, even if they can't be the ones to raise it. What can I do to help your cause? http://40daysforlife.com/book Today's devotional is from Fr. Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life. DAY 40 INTENTION Let us keep our eyes fixed on the New Jerusalem, where death will be no more. SCRIPTURE "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" -- Revelation 21:4-5 REFLECTION by Fr. Frank Pavone, Priests for Life Every activity we undertake in defense of the sanctity of life is prophetic, inasmuch as it points to the day when "death will be no more." Every victory we have when an act of abortion is prevented is prophetic of that day when death itself will be definitively conquered. Every triumph of grace in this world, whereby someone is brought to see the value of life and given the strength to welcome it, is a breaking into our history of that definitive future in which the old order of things will have passed, and all things will be made new. As pro-life warriors, we must keep our eyes fixed on heaven, and our hearts secure in the hope that the day is coming when all evil will be conquered. It is the future that shapes the present; it is victory that informs the battle; it is the destination that determines the journey. Daily, we are called to reflect on heaven. When we weep, we are to think of the day when every tear will be wiped away. When we face the destructive power of death, we are to think of the day when death is swallowed up in victory. When we labor against abortion, we are to think of the day when we will have the rest and peace of the final triumph of life. Heaven is as real as earth, and its joys will be as real as our present sorrows. PRAYER Father, you are the God of hope. Your word fills us with the vision of the world to come, when every tear will be wiped away, and death will be no more. Father, how we need that hope, how we are strengthened by that vision! Keep our hearts focused on heaven, and diligent in the labors of earth. As we struggle against the culture of death, root our souls in the assurance of victory. We pray through Christ our Lord, Amen.  PRINTABLE DEVOTIONAL To download today's devotional as a formatted, printable PDF to share with friends: http://40daysforlife.com/docs/spring2013day40print.pdf ------------------------------------------------------ Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all you have done to make this monumental campaign such an amazing success. You inspire me, Deacon! Yours for Life, Shawn Carney Campaign Director 40 Days for Life PS: Any final thoughts to share about this 40 Days for Life campaign? Please leave a note on today's blog posting at: http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=4488

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