Ever since Planned Parenthood alerted the media about my change of heart, pro-choicer advocates have been out to get me. When I really I think about it, I just don’t understand it.
I remember reading this one blog where this woman was attacking me about my change of belief and this other woman simply said, “You know, it doesn’t matter to me that she had changed her mind. I am truly pro-choice, so I am fine with her decision to be pro-life.” I have to say, her logical state of mind seems to be rare.
Yesterday, I found out that a pro-choicer was making threats against my 4 year old daughter. Really? Is that the way the pro-choice movement really wants to be seen? So, they don’t respect life in or out of the uterus. Great.
Another thing that kind of gets me is that the pro-choicer advocates are so interested in me. I mean, if they are SO for abortion rights, why in the world are they following me so closely? I’m not engaging them, but they continue to engage me.
All that really shows me is that these folks are vulnerable in the best kind of way. If someone is certain of what they believe, then they don’t continue to defend them, over and over again. They know their beliefs, they are sure of them, and that is enough.
They certainly don’t continually engage people from the other side of the debate. It gives me hope for these individuals. I was once like them, but look at me. The more they are exposed to the lies of the abortion industry, the better. The more they hear the truth, even if they fight against it, the better.
Pro-choicer advocates seem to think that my fight is against them. It isn’t. I still care about them. I have friends that are pro-choice. That is not a dividing issue for me when it comes to my friends. It is when it comes to voting, but not friendships.
It makes me sad because I see them as trapped. Trapped inside rhetoric that they have heard so many times that now, they have started to believe it; rhetoric that many of them use to justify their own abortions. They don’t know peace, but they know dysfunction. They don’t know joy; they only know pain masked by defensiveness. They don’t know facts, but they know the talking points.
When I worked for Planned Parenthood I was revered as such a “hard worker,” “wonderful employee,” “trustworthy,” “loyal,” “educated,” “intelligent,” and a “creative mind.” I was heading up the Planned Parenthood chain. I was a trusted leader in the organization.
Now that I am pro-life, all of a sudden, it seems that these Planned Parenthood supporters think I have lost my mind or something to that effect. Now, they call me a “liar,” say that I was a “terrible employee,” I am a “terrible mother,” “traitor,” “immature,” “follower,” “moron,” “idiot,” “whore,” “stupid,” “trashy,” and that I have “no class.”
It’s rather ironic. I make a “choice” that is different from their choice, and all of a sudden they become the most intolerant people I have ever been in contact with.
The majority of these people that are attacking me and my character are young women. Many of them have probably made an abortion decision. It is easier to mask pain by trying to inflict pain on others. As the saying goes, hurt people hurt people.
I pray for these young women daily and hope that one day they will reach out to someone for help. They will realize when they are hurting, Planned Parenthood won’t be there for them, but we will, just like the people who were there for me.
I am now on chapter 5 and am having a hard time putting it down. I actually fell asleep w/ my Kindle in my hand last night. It was so hard to get through the ultrasound chapter, but am so glad you were honest and graphic about the procedure. Thats what people need to here. I have pro choice people tell me that the fetus doesn’t feel pain until its born or 3rd trimester at the most. They need to read this or watch an abortion for themselves. Any how, I am so excited how God changed you and what a difference your going to make and are in the abortion world. Praying for it to end!Melissa Edwards
Georgia
Fell asleep with this book in hand last night. God is awesome and am so excited to see bow he changed your life.
Abby,
You just keep doing what you’re doiing. All of it. You have no idea how you are changing the world. I have so many friends with the pain of abortion in their past. I see them in pain everyday, and until I came across Elizabeth and you I had no idea how to help them. You are an answer to my prayers. Pain is rooted in so many peoples lives, and it takes one thing to open our eyes to it, to see Jesus can free us to begin to dig to find the root of that pain. We cannot do it without him, and we cant do it as long as we keep our eyes shut so tight so we don’t see it. It takes people like you to tell your story, the good and ugly parts to make people with their eyes shut tight to catch a glimpse of the truth. That God is a God of love, mercy and forgiveness. Thank you and God Bless you.
I’m reading “unPlanned”. In fact I am almost finished reading it. Thank you Abby for sharing your story and most of all for being honest.
I will be keeping you in my prayers.
Abby, I got your book in my hands last night and I just finished it now, less than 24 hours later. My toddler fell asleep on me this afternoon and it was the perfect chance to keep going! Your story touched me to the core. I’ll be at our local 40 Days for Life thanks to the inspiration that came from your story.
I started your book after I put my kids to sleep and I finished up the last chapter during naptime today. Amazing story…I can see God’s hand all over it. It was encouraging to see from a different perspective too. Thank you for admonishing the pro life side to love those on the other side of the fence. It is easy to demonize especially when we hear stories like Kermit Gosnell’s. Thank you for spurring us on toward love. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9
Blessings!
Abby, I could not put your book down. I plugged it more than once on my blog and in many conversations with friends. Excellent, heart-wrenching, powerful, inspiring and HOPEFUL.
God bless you. You are a hero to so many of us. 🙂
Hello,
It is peculiar, but you are correct in sniffing them out that they are unsure of their beliefs. It is human nature to get very defensive when they feel their views are not being taken seriously anymore, to what they believe is not so staunchly supported.
I wastched a PBS program yesterday afternoon, and had to switch the channel as it was upsetting me. The subject was about the effects of abortion and the effects of being a mom for the first time. They found less depression on first time moms than woman who had an abortion. So they had a four panel discussion plus the host. In a study, they found no real significant difference though that having an abortion cause more mental/emotional issues than giving birth. Two women were against abortion, and two were pro choice, a.k.a. for abortion. One of the latter was reasonable as to stick to the research, but the other woman stated with such an attitude, as a woman who has children and had abortions, I do not see any issue with study. I thought, what an illogical statement from an educated person. Just because your own personal experience is not having any issues with abrotion, she seemed to want to silence the other two women with her booming voice and seemed a bit intimidating with her stance.
It is sad that these pro choice peopel ahve to resort to such tactics to win instead of arguing points in a cogent manner.
There is a wonderful technique I learned in AZ years ago. It is called Releasing. We were not to teach it to anyone, but the Sedona Method is no longer being taught by the group, as they have disbanded.
Basically, you get in touch with your negative feelings and bring them up. Then you ask, does it feel like wanting Approval or wanting Control. When you identify which one, you ask “Can I let go of wanting Control?/ Approval. Little by little you let go of the feeling, then bring up the next one.
It seems like any of your regrets of losing the esteem of friends, Pro-Choice or otherwise can be softened by applying this technique, which helped me get over a heap yesterday and today. Want to try it?
Much Love in the United Hearts of Jesus and Mary,
J. Angele, Director of 40days – mainlinecoalition