It's Not Hypocrisy, It's Love

 "Shame on you.  How can you, after having an abortion yourself, participate in any efforts to stop others from doing the same?" 

That was a question posed to me in the growing flurry of social media debates surrounding the overturning of Roe v Wade.

My pro-life posts invariably evoke rambling expletives and name-calling. Comments now are even more brutal following the overturning of Roe v Wade. Unfortunately, even some friends who had always supported my efforts hopped on the abortion bandwagon - calling me a hypocrite and condemning my pro-life stance and my faith.  The overturning of Roe v Wade was the catalyst that revealed their true colors.  How sad that had they been honest from the start, my trust and respect towards them would still be intact.

It may appear hypocritical to speak out against abortion after having two of them, but it's not.  Those of us who share honestly about our abortion experience do so out of love. After our abortions, we employed a variety of self-destructive behaviors to suppress our guilt and shame. Those behaviors sometimes lasted for decades and affected all aspects of our lives. Sharing our pain is a means to prevent others from making the same devastating mistake. 

Ezekiel 18:10-13 speaks of a man who defiles himself in sin, thus deserving death.  It is followed by Ezekiel 18:14,17:  "If, however, he begets a son who sees all the sins which his father has done, and considers but does not do likewise…he shall surely live." 

In other words ... If those considering or encouraging abortion yield to the words of those who have experienced it, they will avoid the spiritual and emotional death borne from shame and regret … and, most importantly, save their precious child.

If you have had an abortion and are suffering in silence, you can find peace and forgiveness through after-abortion healing.  Visit www.silentnomore.com.

  

A Lesson in Worth

Some stories have such a special message they should be shared more than once.

This is one of them ...

The Pearl Necklace

Author Unknown

A cheerful girl with bouncy golden curls was almost five. Waiting with her mother at the checkout stand, she saw them: a circle of glistening white pearls in a pink foil box. "Oh please, Mommy. Can I have them? Please, Mommy, please!"

Quickly the mother checked the back of the little foil box and then looked back into the pleading blue eyes of her little girl's upturned face. "A dollar ninety-five. That's almost two dollars. If you really want them, I'll
think of some extra chores for you, and in no time, you can save enough money to buy them for yourself.  Your birthday's only a week away, and you might get another crisp dollar bill from grandma."

As soon as Jenny got home, she emptied her piggy bank and counted out seventeen pennies. After dinner, she did more than her share of chores, and she went to the neighbor and asked if she could pick dandelions for ten cents. On her birthday, Grandma did give her another new dollar bill, and at last, she had enough money to buy the necklace.

Jenny loved her pearls. They made her feel dressed up and grown-up. She wore them everywhere--Sunday school, kindergarten, even to bed. The only time she took them off was when she went swimming or had a
bubble bath. Mother said if they got wet, they might turn her neck green.

Jenny had a very loving daddy, and every night when she was ready for bed, he would stop whatever he was doing and come upstairs to read her a story. One night when he finished the story, he asked Jenny, "Do you love me?"  "Oh yes, Daddy. You know that I love you." "Then give me your pearls."  "Oh, Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have Princess-- the white horse from my collection. The one with the pink tail. Remember, Daddy? The one you gave me. She's my favorite."  "That's okay, Honey. Daddy loves you. Good night." And he brushed her cheek with a kiss.

About a week later, after story time, Jenny's daddy asked again, "Do you love me?" "Daddy, you know I love you." "Then give me your pearls." "Oh, Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have my baby doll. The brand new one I got for my birthday. She is so beautiful, and you can have the yellow blanket that matches her sleeper."  "That's okay. Sleep well. God bless you, little one. Daddy loves you." And, as always, he brushed her cheek with a gentle kiss.

A few nights later, when her daddy came in, Jenny was sitting on her bed with her legs crossed Indian-style. As he came close, he noticed her chin was trembling, and one silent tear rolled down her cheek. "What is it, Jenny? What's the matter? Jenny didn't say anything but lifted her little hand to her daddy. And, when she opened it, there was her little pearl necklace. With a little quiver, she finally said, "Here, Daddy. It's for you."

With tears in his eyes, Jenny's kind daddy reached out with one hand to take the dime-store necklace. With the other hand, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a blue velvet case with a strand of beautiful genuine pearls. He had had them all the time. He was just waiting for her to give up the dime-store pearls.

  

We all hold on to

dime-store pearl necklaces...

feeling unworthy of anything better.

Our Father's hand is reaching out for 

those cheap pearls to replace them with

His greatest gift ...

Seeing our worth through His eyes.

A Spiritual Declaration of Independence

My mind wanders from time to time (?) and today is one of those days.  While we celebrate the adoption of the Declaration of Independence today, we can celebrate a spiritual declaration of independence every day!

 Galatians 5:1

 “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”

 Here are a few examples:

PAST SINS

II Chronicles 7:14 “If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

Romans 6:11 “Consequently, you too must think of yourselves as (being) dead to sin and living for God in Christ Jesus..”

GUILT

Psalms 32: 1,2,5,6 “Blessed is he whose sins are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed are those whose sins the LORD does not count against them, and in whose spirit is no deceit…You forgave the guilt of my sin.”

Isaiah 43:25 “I, even I, am He Who blots out your sins, for My own sake and remember your sins no more”.

LONELINESS

Hebrews 13:5 "I will never forsake you or abandon you.”

Isaiah 54:10 “For the mountains may depart, and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you.”

ANGUISH

Matthew 11:28-29 “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves.”

Psalms 107:19-21 “Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He sent forth his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave. Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men.”

FEAR

Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."

Psalms 27:1 “The LORD is my light and my salvation-- whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life-- of whom shall I be afraid?"

 

HAVE A BLESSED INDEPENDENCE DAY!