The recent Supreme Court leak has started a discussion around a 50-year debate over abortion and the discussions are bringing up tears of regret for women who have lost a child by choice.
Feelings of regret are always difficult to cope with. The flood of thoughts that something else could have been done, that another choice would have been available, that someone would have been supportive at a time when feelings overwhelmed and muddied thinking, and fear resulted in a deadly decision that some women and men never get over. An abortion is not a decision that should be taken lightly as the resulting feelings of guilt can be devastating. Why is this feeling of regret never part of the discussion?
So many women in treatment have feelings of guilt because they were compelled to get an abortion. They did not cheerfully walk into that decision, no one asked them how they were feeling about it at the time of the decision, and no one was there to pick them up off the floor when they collapsed in guilt and shame after it was over. Sure, the thought that an abortion can be a relief because of an unwanted pregnancy, but that relief usually turns to guilt when the woman decides now is a good time to have a baby and is reminded of the child that never will be. I've never understood the celebration to abort.
I wish we celebrated being a mother as much as we fight for the right to not be one. I loved the years raising my daughter and now look forward to another grandchild on the way. I can not imagine even one of those blessings not being here to spread life and love to everyone in the family. Siblings, cousins, grandparents, aunts and uncles impatiently await the day when we will all celebrate the birth of a baby with gifts, balloons, and cake, and shout HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
"The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled."
Genesis 6:6