When Michele and Kevin learned of their pregnancy they were gripped with fear. They couldn’t see any hope or how to move forward. It felt like there was nowhere to go. Though it happened decades ago, the expression on Michele's face expresses a sorrow as if it was yesterday. Everything within her raged against the idea of abortion but she felt lost. She didn't want to go through with it. “I kept looking for a way out. I asked to see the ultrasound screen…” but was told it wasn’t a good idea. The cloud should have passed when the abortion was over but it wasn’t. Michele felt deep loss, like a pit, a new level of low became part of her life. 

 

Years later, after a near death battle with Meningitis, in the stillness of that season, she realized she had been carrying a mountain of guilt and shame that she would never be able to chip away at on her own. A new level of hope began to dawn as she realized there was healing for this sorrow - in the redeeming power of Christ. She released it all and the truth set her free.

 

Kevin shared some wise thoughts of how our culture shapes our decision making. He said, “Because culture said it was ok, I thought, it must be ok.” Too often the media forms what is considered to be reasonable when in truth media merely echos either darkness or light. More wisdom from Kevin: We often are looking for a safe person to talk to in times of pain. The Church needs to be that place where people are safe to share their stories and carry each other.