Silent no more…

  My childhood had been one of emotional, verbal, and sexual abuse. As a teen the choices I made carried on in the same pattern. I didn’t need anyone else to inflict on me the familiar abuse; I had learned how to inflict it on myself. So the stage had been set: a young girl with a low self concept, poor decision- making skills, insecurity, and an insatiable desire to be loved. A scene racked with sexual promiscuity, alcohol, drugs, two abortions, and a miscarriage.

  Not until after many years of a somewhat normal life, marriage and a family, was I able to start seeing the old patterns for what they really were and how some of them were still affecting my daily life. I began to recognize the pain from the past. Only then did I realize that those patterns could bring more pain and destruction to me and those I loved so dearly.

  First God began to show me the pain from the past abortions and how He wanted to heal those places that had been hurt and damaged. I began the journey of healing and freedom by working through the abortions in a workbook titled, “H.E.A.R.T. (Healing the effects of abortion-related trauma). Like a skilled physician, He pulled away the scabs, and cleaned out the wounds. He cared and nursed my past pain. He gave me the prescription to continue on to a healthier and freer-from-pain lifestyle~His word and His spirit.

  I have led post abortion support groups for several years now and each woman who participates has expressed how they gained some measures of healing and freedom through mostly being able to share with others their secret. Many of the women, like myself, have indeed experienced pain from their choice to abort. Many are walking around silent and hurt with nowhere to turn to. This is one unspoken side of the many post-abortive women. But through the process of HEART, which is similar to working through the cycles of grief, and the incredible work of God’s spirit, each woman has gained freedom through acceptance and forgiveness.

  Most trauma and pain requires a process or should I say a “journey to healing and freedom”. The more healing and freedom I receive the more I realize I can be silent no more. So my desire here at Zoë Women’s Services and abroad is to share the hope of what God has done for me. To offer that same hope to others who are willing to walk through the door of healing.

  I currently am facilitating two post abortion support groups at Zoë. I will also be offering a sexual abuse support group in the near future. I will be hosting a support group for pregnant teens in the middle of April. If you or anyone you know would benefit or be interested to know more, please call me, Teresa Best @ 586-9444 or 388-3207.

  II Corinthians 5:18-20 to me: But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself (received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself) and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation (that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him). It was God (personally and present) in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself, not counting up and holding against (men) their trespasses (but canceling them), and committing to us the message of reconciliation (of the restoration to favor). So we are Christ’s ambassadors, God making His appeal as it were through us. We (as Christ’s personal representatives) beg you for His sake to lay hold of the divine favor (now offered you) and be reconciled to God.