“Mommy, did you know that some mommies kill their babies while they’re still in their tummies?” my six-year-old daughter, Elise, asked as we walked across the church parking lot.
I stopped in my tracks. “Who told you that?” I asked, dumbfounded.
“We learned about it in GA’s tonight,” Elise, explained. “Did you know that Mommy? Huh?”
Stunned, I quickly tried to gather my thoughts. I’d just picked up my kids after our Wednesday night church service and hadn’t expected to be greeted with such a jarring question from my first grader. GA’s is short for Girls in Action, a mission group for girls. Should a six-year-old know about the atrocity of abortion? After sending up a quick prayer for wisdom I answered my daughter. “Yes, Elise, I did know that.”
“But Mommy, why would anybody want to kill their little baby?” She was almost in tears.
I struggled for words as I buckled my three-year-old son, Jacob, into his car seat. At her age, she couldn’t begin to comprehend the complexities of such a question. As she climbed into her seat, her big brown eyes looked intently into mine. She wanted an answer.
“Huh, Mommy? Why would they want to do that?”
I cleared my throat. “Well, sweetie,” I said nervously, “some mommies can’t take care of their babies and think the baby will be better off if they’re never born.”
I didn’t know what else to say.
“But Mommy, that’s not right. That poor little baby didn’t do anything wrong.”
“I know honey, you’re exactly right. Some people just don’t understand that.”
We sat in silence the rest of the way home while I thought about my first-grader’s strong reaction to abortion. When seen through the eyes of an innocent child there are no gray areas—only black and white. But until that moment, I didn’t realize how un-phased I was by the actual act of abortion. I’d allowed myself to see it as an ethical issue, not the act of murder, as Elise did.
When I was younger, I wasn’t sure if abortion was all that bad. I’d never really heard it addressed much in the church while growing up, so I didn’t have a strong opinion about it either way. Not until my struggle with infertility did I become a strong proponent for choosing life for all babies. I saw the importance of every single child created in the womb and understood that life is formed at the moment of conception. I also saw how God is the Master Creator who has a grand plan for each of us, and we hinder His work when our will collides with His masterpiece.
There was a sermon I heard about a while back about abortion. In it, the pastor noted God may have already created the person who could cure cancer and rid the world of this horrible disease, but that life may have been snuffed out through abortion. Wow. What an eye-opening concept.
There are women I’ve met who’ve had abortions. Crushed with regret, they wonder who that child may have become. My heart breaks for them.
I’ve also seen the joy brought about through adoption. I know several families who’ve been blessed beyond measure by their beloved children, forever grateful to the mothers who decided to bring this little life into the world. The courage it must have taken to carry their babies to full term, only to give them away, is mind-boggling.
Today’s guest, Christy Braddock, has struggled with both scenarios. The guilt became a heavy weight to carry. Christy got pregnant at 15 and gave her baby up for adoption. Then at 21 she became pregnant again, but this time she decided to keep the baby and get married, thinking this was her second chance to raise a child. But because her marriage was so dysfunctional she made some poor choices, including abortion, that she’s had to overcome with Jesus’ grace and forgiveness. Today, Christy’s passion is helping women to break free from shame and boldly share their testimonies and, because of that, has created The Shine Collective with Christy B., a space for healing hearts and brave stories. When you hear her testimony of faith today, you’ll also hear the joy and light that comes from within her since she’s found freedom and forgiveness through the love of Jesus. You are going to love her.
Find Christy on Instagram at The Shine Collective with Christy B and find her podcast at The Shine Podcast with Christy B.
Also, I’d love for you to become part of the Building Strong Homes Community and sign up for my email list where you’ll also receive my baked spaghetti recipe.
You can also click to sign up to become part of my free Facebook community.
Listen to Breaking Free from Shame: Pregnant at 15, Redeemed by Faith with Christy Braddock
Watch on YouTube Breaking Free from Shame: Pregnant at 15, Redeemed by Faith with Christy Braddock