When a woman finds herself in an unplanned pregnancy, she often feels that she is alone, and must “deal with it” alone. Sometimes, the father of her baby tells her to “deal with it” or “get rid of it” – he leaves her to shoulder the burden of pregnancy alone. Some women find that they have no support for keeping their baby from their parents, siblings or friends. An abortion decision is made due to a lack of social support, in a situation of isolation, of “being alone.”
Since the wound of abortion often occurs in a situation of isolation, of being alone with an unplanned pregnancy, it is important that the healing of abortion occur in society with other human persons. We humans are social creatures. We need and crave social interaction with other humans. We need the support of other men and women for all the important events and trials of our lives. For those who have experienced the personal “hell” of an abortion decision alone – being alone in the decision itself and in the aftermath of the abortion – we need to be with other persons, persons who accept and love us for who we are, even with the burden of what we have done.
Rachel’s Vineyard retreats occur in a social setting: each retreat is served by a team of women and men who have been called to love and serve the retreatants as they make their journey towards healing and wholeness. On each retreat, there are a number of persons who are making the journey to healing in Christ Jesus. Each retreatant experiences the love and support of other persons, all of whom have made the spiritual healing journey that is Rachel’s Vineyard. We do not have to be alone anymore. Not only is Rachel’s Vineyard a powerful way to experience the healing of the wounds of abortion, but it is a powerful way of experiencing healing from the wound of having been alone in what may have been one of the most traumatic events in a person’s life.
If you have not yet made a Rachel’s Vineyard retreat for the healing of the wounds of abortion, please contact us through our website or by copying and pasting the email address at the bottom of this page, or you can call the national toll-free hotline at (877) HOPE 4 ME.