This week is a big one for those of us who've been fighting on the front lines of the abortion issue for days, months, years or even decades. On March 29th, a movie will release across the country. A movie that's going to change the landscape of the abortion issue, how others see it and challenge everyone to make a choice. This movie is going to start a long, overdue conversation. How do I know this? Because I've seen it. That movie is "Unplanned".
"Unplanned" is the true story of former Planned Parenthood Clinic Director, Abby Johnson. Abby worked at Planned Parenthood for eight years, until one day, she saw something that changed everything. Up until that life-changing moment, she'd bought a lie. Thirty one years ago, I purchased one myself.
When I was twenty one years old, I found myself newly divorced and a single mom to two little girls. Struggling to make ends meet, I worked twelve hour days just to make enough money to pay our bills and put food on the table. Their biological father, my ex-husband, had literally abandoned us. He just "didn't want to be married anymore". This man always had an excuse why he couldn't send child support, so I had no choice but to work as much as I could to take care of these two beautiful little girls on my own.
I can't count the number of days he promised them he would come for a visit. They would pack their little suitcases and wait hours and hours on the porch because "Daddy was coming!" Too many times, I had to plead with and beg them to come in and get ready for bed, as light turned to dark, without any sign of their Daddy. No phone call. No apologies. Nothing. He just left me to pick up the pieces of their broken little hearts.
A part of me died every time I watched their hope fade that "Daddy forgot us again, Mommy". I was lonely. I was broken. I felt helpless.
It came as no surprise when the first guy who showed me attention was able to win my heart. My self-esteem was shot to pieces by then and I longed for a man to reassure me I was worth his time and effort. I needed resassurance my girls' and I would be important to someone. I was barely a child myself, broken and wounded, doing her best to take care of two more broken and wounded little souls.
This new relationship grew serious quickly and I found myself incredibly attracted to everything about him. I was in love. I knew he was "the one". He told me the same. We were going to be married one day, grow old together. We became sexually active within a few weeks of "falling in love". He loved my girls and we talked about having our own children in the future. He told me he couldn't wait to be a father.
But, when I took a pregnancy test nine months into our relationship, things didn't have the happy ending I'd hoped for.
I knew the outcome of a pregnancy. I already had two children. But, when my boyfriend suggested an abortion was best because the timing just wasn't right for us to have a child? Well, he was very convincing. I believed him.
When I called the abortion clinic and shared my story, looking for answers for what to do, the abortion counselor said, "Don't you think it would be very selfish of you as a mother to bring another child in your life when you can barely feed the two you have? Those little girls deserve better than that, right?" She was very convincing. I believed her.
Besides, after all, according to the abortion counselor, I was so early in my pregnancy, there was nothing there. Just a blob of tissue, a clump of cells. The procedure would be nothing more than getting a tooth pulled, a cyst or a benign tumor removed.
So, on a Saturday morning, I drove myself to an abortion clinic in Charlotte, NC to end the growing life of my six week old baby. After it was over, before I'd even walked out of the abortion clinic, I knew I'd just made the greatest mistake of my life and would never be the same. I was right.
It took over a decade for me to finally accept God's forgiveness. It took even longer to forgive myself. God led me to a Pregnancy Center in Concord, NC, where I enrolled in post-abortion counseling to receive the help I needed to begin my healing process. My life was forever altered by the help they offered me.
Since that time, I've made it my mission to educate men and women about the ramifications of choosing abortion. It's been a calling of sorts to do what I can to fully inform those who find themselves in an unplanned pregnancy, making sure they understand abortion doesn't have to be their permanent option to a temporary challenge.
For over two decades, I've spoken to tens of thousands of men and women at conferences, events and churches across the country, where I've shared my own personal story, a secret I'd hidden for so long, determined my child would not die in vain.
Yet, there've been moments I've felt people still don't really get it. I can't fault them. Unless you've experienced an abortion in your life, it's hard to empathize with those of us who have. Still yet, there've been many caring people I've met throughout my career who've been incredibly kind and do sympathize earnestly with the post-abortive man or woman.
But, this week, I truly believe things are about to change, as the world will be impacted by a film that will leave them speechless. Many will feel betrayed when reality hits they've been fed a lie.
I also believe healing is going to begin for millions of post-abortive men and women, who've buried their abortions deep in their hearts. This movie will remind them they are forgiven, loved deeply by a God who knows no bounds and a God who offers redemption, even after an abortion.
Pregnancy Centers across the country are preparing for their phones to be ringing off the hook from those looking for help and healing.
Yes, it's a big day for those of us who've been in this fight. Why? Because finally, through the telling of this true story, the truth will be revealed to all. A truth that keeps some of us up at night. A truth that causes some of us to fall on our knees crying out to God for eyes to be opened to this American Holocaust. I don't know if laws will change in the very near future, but when the hearts and minds of millions are transformed, then and only then, will abortion become unthinkable.
I'm not going to lie. This movie is hard to watch, but I can promise you won't be sorry you were courageous and brave enough in making the choice to purchase that movie ticket. Besides, whatever side you find yourself, don't you owe it to yourself to know what you're standing up for? Also be warned. After viewing this film, you won't be able to plead ignorance any longer.
And, please, don't hear what I'm not saying. This is not a time those of us involved in pro-life issues should be celebrating a victory of "I told you so". Not at all. In all actuality, our hearts should break for those who have turned a blind eye to the abortion issue. Because when some of these same people come to the revelation many have had before them, it will be difficult to comprehend and understand. Each one of us deserve the facts and whole truth about this bill of goods we've been sold for decades.
Today, the most dangerous place for the unborn is in their own mother's womb. How can this be? How did we get here? There are no surprises to God. He knew Abby Johnson's story before she ever lived it, just as He knew mine. He already knew the choices we'd make. Even so, in all His Love and Mercy, He took the very thing in our lives that the enemy meant to destroy women like us and turned it into good. God also knew about this movie long before the producers had a script. He knew the perfect timing would be His and handpicked every single person that would be involved. He also knew this movie would be a turning point for many.
With all my heart, I'm convinced God will use this movie, "Unplanned", for "such a time as this". People will be angry. People will be shocked. People will be challenged. People will be heartbroken. People will be moved to action.
A line will be drawn in the sand. There is no in between. Not anymore.
Which side will you choose?
