Preparing for my trip to San Francisco for the West Coast Walk for Life. My husband I decided to drive up from San Diego and take five days of R & R. My mom is being placed in respite care at a wonderful facility while we're away so my dad can get some much needed rest as well. I'll be removing the laptop that seems to be permanently attached to me, a promise to my husband...so I'll be off the grid for awhile.
Please make sure to check out my new release, "And God Still Loves Me". The link is on the left sidebar.
The following is the testimony I will be giving at the Silent No More Awareness Campaign Rally preceding the Walk for Life:
My
name is Patti Smith and I am the mother of Sarah and Matthew, two
innocent angels I thoughtlessly swept from my life by yielding to
pressure from family and friends and believing the rhetoric of the
pro-choice community.
Both
abortion experiences were the same, I recall them like they were
yesterday and they were over thirty years ago. The clinics were cold
and sterile, the staff did not provide any type of comfort or
assurance. It was like I was there to have a splinter removed,
nothing of any consequence.
The
sound of the vacuum still echoes in my ears and I distinctly recall
the tugging, that at the time seemed to last forever. It was as if
something was trying to hold on. There was
something trying to hold on, hold on for dear life.... Sarah and
Matthew. When I left the clinic both times, instead of feeling
relief, I felt empty … like I had left something behind, which
I did...Sarah and Matthew.
I
was never a Pollyanna, but after the first abortion my promiscuity
escalated as did my drinking and I was hell-bent on self destruction.
After the second, my life went completely out of control. I lost so
very much during those days, including the love and respect of my
family, friends and co-workers…. but most importantly, the love and
respect of myself. I also purposely
lost the ability to have a child as I convinced a doctor to give me a
tubal ligation at the age of 30. I didn't know at that time, but
realized later, I was punishing myself for the abortions. I felt
unworthy and unsuitable to be a mother.
Sixteen years ago I finally reached the point where I could no longer stand
to look in the mirror because of how far down the abyss of depravity
I had gone. That brought me to believe suicide was the only
alternative. God had other plans and I was admitted to a psychiatric
hospital and then to rehab.
Although
successful in maintaining my sobriety my soul was still heavy and I
didn’t know why. A few years ago I attended a church seminar and
heard a woman sharing her abortion experience and how it affected
her. She spoke about post-abortion healing retreats and I
immediately knew that’s where I needed to be. God spoke to me
through her that day. The woman God so graciously used just happened
to be Leslie Brunolli, San Diego Silent No More Coordinator. I
attended a retreat shortly thereafter which started me on a wonderful
journey of healing and forgiveness.
I
learned the guilt, shame and self-hatred I carried for so many years
were buried deep within within my soul, and my way of keeping it
buried was drinking and promiscuity. I numbed feelings with booze
and slept around for, what I thought at the time, was love and
acceptance.
That
retreat put together the pieces of my broken heart and provided me a
way to ask for and receive forgiveness not only from God but from
Sarah, Matthew and myself.
I
stand here today not just to share the consequences of my abortions,
but to have the silent voices of my children heard.
That’s
why I’m Silent No More.
I'll be posting thoughts and photos upon my return...until then.....
HAVE A BLESSED DAY!