Making the Choice
Last week here on the main page I shared about “almost” having an abortion in 1977. Thank you for the generous and kind comments. I know there are some whose almost was “I did,” and today I’m sharing two stories of adoption and counsel from a former Pregnancy Care Center Director. I hope it blesses someone in a tangible way.
Peggy’s Turn:
Nine years before Roe vs Wade, in 1964, I graduated from high school. I was free and life was great; however, it quickly changed. I was 17-1/2 years old, in love, and pregnant. A dear friend insisted I go to a doctor to confirm my fear. It was confirmed. Abortion was not legal in 1964, and, quite frankly, I didn’t even know what the term meant. The doctor did and stated, “we can perform a D&C and clean out the cervix area.” I asked him what that would do to my pregnancy. “Well, it will “take care” of it.” Somehow, I knew this was not right, said NO, and even thanked him.
October, I turned 18 and December 3, 1964, I gave birth to a little girl in Tallahassee, Florida. I named her Marsha Lynne and I placed her for adoption.
Peggy’s Jeremiah 29.11
My Jeremiah 29.11 began in 1998, when I was appointed Director of the Pregnancy Care Center in Jefferson, North Carolina. We dealt with many issues, including: single parenting, adoption, and abortion. I was learning, first-hand, the pain of abortion. We started a Forgiven and Set Free class, an abortion healing study by Linda Cochrane, study can be found here. One of the things I learned through teaching was the question most mothers asked me, “how do I stop the baby crying in my head?”
Our Mom’s would pray and God, in His Fatherliness, answered every single time with a dream of seeing their baby in the Fields of Heaven. They would see their baby, two-years old, barefoot and beautiful, in a huge field of flowers.
Fields of Heaven by Joyce Mauer
We also encouraged Mom’s to name their babies. There is a wonderful story by Frank Peretti, called Tilly, and is a source of encouragement for women who need to heal.
Rachel’s Vineyard is a retreat for hurting women.
For an unplanned pregnancy as a believer in Christ, we have TWO choices: we parent or we place our babies for adoption. There are no other options because it is a BABY! For adoption information, Christian Adoption Services in Matthews, North Carolina, is an organization with a loving, caring, and helpful staff who will be with you through it all and they will never condemn – they will only love you and your baby.
P.S. from Peggy: My “baby” is over-50 now and we aren’t only Mom and daughter, but we are good friends!
Merry’s Turn:
In 1965, at almost 17 I gave birth, and placed my Wendy for adoption, at our family’s priest’s suggestion. Wendy was placed with the most wonderful Christian people to raise. They did an exceptional job and I am proud of the woman she has become and so glad my parents didn’t believe in abortion. So glad you shared this with so many that may be thinking of aborting. What joy that child will bring into their lives. You will have made such a difference.
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1.800.712.HELP (4357) Heartbeat International Hotline
Pregnancy Decision Line 855.334.8085
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If you like what you read here on Hope Heart Home? You’ll love my email letter each Wednesday, it’s like a letter from home. Things you’ll never read here on the blog and we always share a cuppa and sit a spell. If you’d like to join me? Just do the thing below and just like that, I’ll land in your inbox on Wednesday mornings!
Susan – thank you for sharing your story and their stories too. which is a lot of peoples stories as well. Blessings and love <3
Thanks Debbie, I’ll be linking up at your place Thursday so more women can find encouragement and hope. xo
Susan,
Thank you for sharing your story and Peggy’s. I know God has and will continue to use them to provide encouragement, direction, and hope to others. I look forward to reading your newest book and now Peggy’s as well.
You’re our biggest fan! — Thanks Jan appreciate you so much.
Seeing it in print always hits me like I am there again. There are so many of my Moms out there who will relate to this again and I pray it will open their hearts to speak up and out about the horrific time we are in when babies are being aborted and people are smirking, smiling, and shouting about it happily. Let’s stand up and shout out for LIFE! Thank you for letting me share.
I understand and it really is time to shout out for LIFE!
I just love mom’s story and so proud of the decision she made “back then”. This just shows her strength and faith and I’m thankful I have that as a guiding force in my life. Because of mom’s life choice I have a big sis and forever friend. Love you both so much.
WHO1 — commented on my blog. WOWZERS!
Susan, thank you for your always open, honest, and transparent posts. These were wonderful stories of adoption. Here’s the link where I share my adoption story also:
https://bethwillismiller.blogspot.com/2009/10/conceived-on-memorial-day-almost.html
Many blessing to you sweet friend!
Yes, and happy birthday Beth – your adoption story is beautiful as well.
Susan, thank you for sharing these stories. I was also, at one time, a teenager in love and pregnant. I chose to keep the baby and marry his father. 40 years later, that baby now has a baby (and a wife). They live in Colorado, and his little boy is the light of my life. Another son is looking into adoption. These stories were very personal to me!
Laurie, thank you so much for sharing. You have become a dear friend of hearts!
Show much grace, strength, and dignity in sharing these stories!
XO
Right? So blessed to live and share!
Such a blessing! Our ABBA is so full of Grace and Love, as we should all be .
He is our precious Papa…
Thank you for sharing these stories, Susan!
SO important…
wonderful and painful and ultimately wonderful. will share.
Thanks dearest friend. xo
Thank you Sue for sharing Peg and my story. If we can be of help to even one woman out there who is thinking abortion is her only option we hope she will “re-think” the life of this unborn child and the child will thank her one day. Merry
Merry, so appreciate you sharing Wendy with HHH’s readers. A true love story!
Tender and thoughtful … and oh so full of hope, Susan.
Bless you …
Linda, I do hope you read the first of this two-part series “Abortion – I (almost) had one.”
I think it’s so valuable for people to be able to share their stories and be heard. Thanks for sharing these here, Susan.
Lisa, Peggy is my sister and Merry a good and long-time friend — these are stories from their heart!
These very personal stories are a gift of love to women who need to know that God is not done writing their story.
Absolute truth, MM.
Thank you for sharing these powerful stories, Susan. As the mom of two girls adopted from China, I am forever grateful that their biological mothers made the very brave choice to give them life. Hugs, friend!
Lois, adoption stories are so incredibly full of HOPE!
Not enough thank yous for you and these women who shared their stories. Brave, courageous, loving. All the adjectives.
I can’t imagine how difficult (understatement!) it must be to be faced with such a decision. I never had to face it not because I was a “good” girl or anything (I wasn’t) but it just didn’t fall that way for me.
THANK YOU for sharing your hearts, ladies.
I’m just so glad I chose LIFE!