A Prodigal Son Is Called Home to the Father By His Aborted Daughter
[James attended a Rachel’s Vineyard retreat weekend to reconcile his role in an abortion decision over 25 years ago. James gave permission to share the letter that he read to his daughter Angelina and the other retreat participants at the memorial service held on Sunday afternoon. Keep in mind that there is a great amount of emotional and spiritual work done from Friday through Saturday evening of the weekend to help prepare participants for this very important event.]
Dearest Angelina,
I am writing to you to tell you how profoundly sorry and heartbroken I am for being such a bad father who didn’t value and defend you as I should have. I ask you for your forgiveness for taking your life.
I grieve now for the loss of you and the joy you would shared with me, your sisters, your mother and so many others. That selfish, unspeakable act took your life, and robbed us all of the memories we would have shared with you. I now see this loss left a huge gaping wound in all of us that is in need of healing by the One whose presence and love you have known for 24 years now.
At the time your mother became pregnant with you, I had so many years before exchanged the truth of God for the lie. I was blind to the truth that my Creator and Heavenly Father loves me unconditionally, and has joy and peace and blessing for me – if only I will love and trust and obey Him.
Finally after so many years squandered in prodigal living, God has used thoughts of you to bring me back to Him. Our loving savior has used my anguish over loosing you to draw me near to Him as He pours out his healing grace on my wounds.
Angelina, I have been choosing death for so long! God has used you to bring me back – back to Life! When I realized I had no hope of changing on my own, I admitted this to God. I asked him to have mercy on me and to remove my selfishness and replace it with an overwhelming love for Him and for others. He is doing this now!
Your life and not been in vain. God has taken this tragedy and used it for good!
You must be a beautiful child and my eyes and heart ache to see you. My pain is being replaced with the joy at the thought of the day when I see you. I long for that eternity spent with you and all of my loved ones in heaven, God willing.
Give Jesus a warm embrace for me; tell Him that I am so grateful he gave me the gift of your life. Ask him to please save your sisters, your Gramma and Grampa, and the rest of our family so that we can all have banquets together in His presence forever. Oh, what a joy that will be!
I have to end this letter now, but my love for you dearest Angelina, will never end. I love you! Until I cross the Jordan and see you in the arms of Jesus, I will with God’s strength choose life, moment by moment, and share his truth and love with all of His children.
With many tears, a grateful heart to God, and much love for you,
Dad
[If you or someone you love is hurting after abortion you can find a list of healing resources in your area here.
If you would like to learn more about how abortion impacts men Kevin Burke has a new book out called Tears of the Fisherman: Recovery for Men Wounded by Abortion. You can learn more about the book and purchase info here.]