Abortion in Our Midst - Sydna Masse of Ramah International
After a sermon about abortion, one woman relayed, “I don’t know how anyone could ever choose abortion.” In overhearing her comments, I had to internally remind myself that she didn’t know I had chosen abortion. She never realized that her words could deepen my unhealthy belief that no one could forgive this choice.
My former boss, H.B. London, Jr., helped me understand these comments, explaining that, “There are those in spiritual leadership who feel that the stronger and more condemning their rhetoric against abortion is — the more people will be influenced to choose morality and chastity. I pray that be so, but for most who hear the bombastic sermons it only causes more pain and a tendency to withdraw even further into one’s private hell.”
Statistics from abortion providers outline that one third of all American women are post-abortive. The world is constantly encountering us – in supermarkets, teaching your children, running day care centers, at the top levels of corporations or mopping floors in hotels. If abortion is so common, why is it that so few of us confess to this choice? The answer is simple – we are afraid of your judgment, condemnation and rejection. Many of us worked hard NOT to allow ourselves to think about this choice, let alone outline it publicly.
Sadly, post-abortive dysfunctional behavior can reinforce society’s judgment. Some of us can come across like modern-day Jezebel’s, working to propagandize abortion as a wonderful choice. Perhaps we drink or experiment with drugs, become obese or anorexic, experience levels of depression that can lead to suicide. Rarely is our dysfunction connected to our abortion choice as part of the denial process is to evade imminent grief and guilt over our pregnancy loss.
Before finding healing, there was a period in my life when I not only recommended abortion to my friends, I righteously told myself it was my “best choice.” Drugs numbed the traumatic experience. I even casually relayed my abortion choice to a family member. His horror at my lack of remorse was interpreted to my heart as judgment and initiated my withdrawal from anyone who would not accept my choice as a good decision. I found temporary security in the society of abortion supporters because I knew they would not judge me. It never occurred to me that this family member might be grieving my child too.
The rest i s here
