This morning as I read the "DAY 7: Not just moms & babies; TV special" email from David Bereit I was struck. David shared the story of a young man in Houston, Texas during the 40 Days for Life prayer vigil at the Planned Parenthood abortion facility. The young man's girl friend, the mother of their pre-born baby and the baby's grandmother had determined that the baby was to be killed through abortion.
While his story is different from my own one thing remains the same. Neither he or I had any say in the ultimate outcome of the situation. Neither he or I could do anything to save the life of our child. But it was the last part of the story that struck me most painfully.
"All I could tell him was what I truly believed -- that today, his child knows that his/her father fought for it. That to his child, he is a hero and that someday he would know that also."
I did not try to save my baby. I did not speak up for her. I actually paid someone to end her life. Not until recently have I come to understand that my baby has forgiven me. That she knows her mother and I did not understand who she was. That she was a child of God. That she IS alive and loves us.
If those 27 years ago someone had been praying outside would we have changed our minds? Would we have choosen life for our baby? Would I have had the courage to speak? The courage to shed tears.
On the day of the opening rally for this fall's 40 Days for Life campaign, as we processed along 86th Street I saw for the first time a billboard which read, "I regret lost fatherhood." I couldn't believe it. A billboard as big as a cloud in the sky saying what I feel. Saying something that nobody wants to hear about, nobody wants to talk about. Even with the healing I have come through to this point another layer was released, because the truth was right there for everyone to see. I thank God for the people who paid for that billboard to be there, to witness to the truth of abortion.
After all these many years, I have accepted the forgiveness and mercy of our Lord, and now I have the couarge to shed those tears in thanksgiving for the assurance and the hope that my little girl is with Jesus waiting for me to hold her in my arms for all eternity.
While his story is different from my own one thing remains the same. Neither he or I had any say in the ultimate outcome of the situation. Neither he or I could do anything to save the life of our child. But it was the last part of the story that struck me most painfully.
"All I could tell him was what I truly believed -- that today, his child knows that his/her father fought for it. That to his child, he is a hero and that someday he would know that also."
I did not try to save my baby. I did not speak up for her. I actually paid someone to end her life. Not until recently have I come to understand that my baby has forgiven me. That she knows her mother and I did not understand who she was. That she was a child of God. That she IS alive and loves us.
If those 27 years ago someone had been praying outside would we have changed our minds? Would we have choosen life for our baby? Would I have had the courage to speak? The courage to shed tears.
On the day of the opening rally for this fall's 40 Days for Life campaign, as we processed along 86th Street I saw for the first time a billboard which read, "I regret lost fatherhood." I couldn't believe it. A billboard as big as a cloud in the sky saying what I feel. Saying something that nobody wants to hear about, nobody wants to talk about. Even with the healing I have come through to this point another layer was released, because the truth was right there for everyone to see. I thank God for the people who paid for that billboard to be there, to witness to the truth of abortion.
After all these many years, I have accepted the forgiveness and mercy of our Lord, and now I have the couarge to shed those tears in thanksgiving for the assurance and the hope that my little girl is with Jesus waiting for me to hold her in my arms for all eternity.
Eric Slaughter
Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary
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