Occasionally, I’ll invite a staff member to share in this monthly praise report, and this is one of those occasions! Stefanie Libertore, director of recovery services at Hope and Healing, recently led a pilgrimage to the National Memorial for the Unborn. Here is her story.
As a woman who has had an abortion 39 years ago, I understand that healing is not a one-time event, but rather something that continues as I bend my heart to the Lord’s tender touch.
My healing journey began 22 years ago, and I have unpacked layers of grief, anger, regret, shame and forgiveness. I have also given my child a name – Benjamin Michael – which gives him dignity and recognizes his humanity. The Lord has been so gracious with His salvation and His ability to restore my mothering heart, my joy, and to bring beauty from the ashes of my destructive choices.
Over the years I’ve wanted to visit The National Memorial for the Unborn – not for my own sake, but for Benjamin’s. What started out as something I wanted to do, turned into something I needed to do, and I thought perhaps other mothers needed this too. So, what became a casual road-trip, became a pilgrimage. On July 25-26, nine of us from the Canton-Akron and Columbus areas, set out for Chattanooga, TN, to honor our children at The National Memorial for the Unborn.
The Memorial, with a miracle story worth sharing, sits on the grounds of a former abortion clinic where 35,000 children perished, and is now dedicated to helping women and men heal from their abortions. In place of the actual abortion procedure rooms stands a 50-foot granite wall featuring remembrance plaques by mothers, fathers, and other family members who have lost children to abortion.
Walking into the Memorial featuring the wall of names, was a sacred experience; I could feel the peaceful presence of God. As I sat quietly taking it all in, I felt a strange combination of sadness and joy. Sadness because of the visual reminder before me that represented a fraction of the number of children lost to the sin of abortion – and joy, because I knew that for each of the children represented on that wall, held a painful, yet powerful ashes-to-beauty story of redemption of a mother or father whose hearts were healed and healing. Mine among them.
Regina Block, Executive Director of NMU, held a private memorial service for our group that was Christ-centered, meaningful, and honoring to our children, as we added their name plaque to the wall.
I am so grateful for the opportunity to honor my child Benjamin at The National Memorial for the Unborn. Placing his name on that massive wall was the right thing for me to do, and it brought peace and joy to my heart. As I shared the reason for this trip with my mother, it opened a conversation we haven’t had in 39 years! Some tears were spilt, regrets were expressed, and another layer of healing was received.
For more information on The National Memorial for the Unborn, visit their website National Memorial for the Unborn.
If you have experienced abortion loss, we would love to help you on your journey toward healing and restoration. Hope and Healing offers support for men and women. Visit our website: Hope & Healing – A Safe and Authentic Place Where You Can Heal From Grief.
Blessings,
Paula