by Patti Smith – Regional Coordinator for San Diego, CA
Next month, I will be speaking at a memorial service for the unborn as part of the National Day of Remembrance for Aborted Children.
Although not a stranger to public speaking, this event will be heart-wrenching because I’m, in essence, giving a eulogy for Matthew and Sarah, my two aborted children. How does one find the words? It’s not like a eulogy for a child who passed away from an accident or illness. My children are gone because of me.
It is times like this when “stinking thinking” starts. I recall how Abraham Lincoln described hypocrisy – “A man who kills both parents then asks for mercy because he’s an orphan.” Once again fear rears its ugly head, causing me to worry the audience will be thinking along the same lines as Mr. Lincoln.
Then I start to smile…yes, smile. I remember that through the grace of God, the person allowing Sarah and Matthew’s death no longer exists. I remember the verse repeated so often while attending a healing retreat, 1 John 1: 9, “If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing,” and I need to remember “Be determined and confident. Do not be afraid of them. Your God, the Lord himself, will be with you. He will not fail you or abandon you.” Deuteronomy 31:6
Through God’s mercy, I was given another chance, and it would only be hypocritical if I squandered that chance … which is why I will be speaking. To honor not just my babies, but all lost to abortion. To ask everyone to lift their voices to Heaven, proclaiming these precious angels matter and are loved, and commit ourselves to do all we can to end the culture of death in our society.
For more of Patti’s writings, visit her blog.
Patti,
Thank you for the courage you are showing, and the compassionate example.you present for all of us that have been impacted by abortion. I too have a little one in heaven, and I couldn’t even acknowledge that fact for over 20 years. This is the first I have grieved, and still it has not been public, but with only a few people close to me. I am unable to.even grieve with my wife, but I pray that will change. Thank you for recognizing our loss, even before I did. The 24th of August will be the 21st anniversary and I am expecting it will be a difficult day for me
Abortion is a sad thing