Greetings from the Midwest. I pray you and your parish are having a successful Lenten experience. I hope you don't mind hearing more of my story, but I wanted to tell you the latest and final chapter of the journey.
First though you need the beginning so you can appreciate the ending. When I spoke to the counselor from Project Rachel the first time, she asked if I had named my baby. I had not, so she advised me to do so (nudge). Since I had only recently accepted the reality that it was a baby this was a difficult thought.
Later that day I was reading "The Healing Power of the Eucharist" and it had a story about a woman in a similar position naming her baby and how it started her healing process (big nudge). Then that evening I spoke with my priest who could tell I was reluctant so he emphasized the importance of a name (bigger nudge).
I had been on a crying spree for about three days, and since I did not want to have my husband come home from work and find me that way again I thought it could wait. Instead I decided to do some secular reading, picking up "Life Strategies", opening to chapter 11.
It was entitled "You have to name it before you can claim it" (whack with 2X4)! I put the book away and logged onto the internet. After several hours I had compiled a short list and decided to sleep on it and make my final decision the next day. I was extremely calm and content when my husband arrived, much to the surprise of both of us.
After the only real sleep I had experienced for days, I awoke with my first thought being the name... 'God has heard' and ...'peaceful'. I picked these because I know God has heard my prayers, confession of sin, and request for forgiveness; and that --- was at peace and eventually I would be also.
Fast forward to this week. I wanted a memorial for --- and went to look for a statuette to place in the cherub garden at Church. I of course was looking at angels, and eventually found the perfect one. However, I was pleasantly surprised to also find a concrete rabbit, all curled up and sleeping. Upon seeing it the first thought that came to my mind was how peaceful it looked, so I adopted it. When the weather allows I will put it in my flower garden at home.
Thanks again for having your site on the internet, and for the positive effect it had in my healing process. You are truly a blessing that I will remember with a smile each time I see that peaceful rabbit.
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Another Testimony of Post Abortion Healing: Liane
Homily on Post-Abortion Forgiveness & Healing