A time of hope and healingPosted: 08.03.09 One weekend really can make a difference. Whether holding this dark secret for many years or a few months, whether man or woman, young or old, one weekend can change your life. Each person encounters the healing touch of the Living God during a Rachel’s Vineyard retreat weekend. Each one with a unique story, yet one shared experience. Abortion. There it is. The “A” word. So difficult to say, even more difficult to think about. You are not alone. We are here to walk this path with you. Perhaps you’ve tried talking about it and quickly realized this will be a private pain, something others do not understand and do not know how to handle. Or perhaps you’ve never told anyone, maybe not even your spouse. It’s necessary, you think, to tuck it away in a box and bury it deep within. You might try to ignore that box. You can’t of course. It’s always there, never forgotten. Maybe you didn’t want the abortion at all. Maybe you or someone close to you thought this was the answer that would make everything like it was before – before you were pregnant, before you had an abortion. But your life isn’t like it was before. You aren’t the same as you were before. For more information...about Rachel’s Vineyard, visit www.rachelsvineyard.org or call 1-877-HOPE4ME. Abortion is a wound so deep it affects every part of who we are. It changes us. Like any wound, your abortion must be acknowledged and treated. It needs to be brought out of darkness into light, as difficult as that might be, so it can be healed. The hurt and grief need to be released. This is necessary for healing. And with healing comes hope and peace. It can be scary to open your box, to look at the injured parts of yourself and to feel the pain. It takes courage to honestly consider and deal with your experience. It is worth it. You are worth it. A Rachel’s Vineyard weekend provides a safe, confidential environment to acknowledge and grieve your loss, to forgive yourself and others. It offers an opportunity to encounter the love and mercy of the Lord and to recognize and give dignity to your child. Is it time to open your box and seek healing? Is it time to be reconciled with your son or daughter? You are not alone. We are here to walk this path with you. We do know. We do care. We do offer hope. Healing the pain of abortion – one weekend at a time. Reilly is director of Rachel’s Vineyard for the Diocese of Orlando.
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