I had been bound with shame and the disgrace of my youth for nineteen years!
 
When I was sixteen years old a family friend in his thirties raped and impregnated me. My family rejected and blamed me for him raping me and they allowed his wife to take me to the clinic to abort my first child. To make matters worse, he and his family were still invited to attend all of our family functions and I was forced to sit alone while family members whispered and said horrible things about me.

Since I did not have anyone to protect me, I secretly decided that I would never trust anybody, nor would I get married. I feared that my husband would be a cheater. I also feared that my womb was barren because I did not fight to keep my baby.

I was left with constant torment and feelings that I was a failure for life because I had allowed them to take my baby and my voice.

Two years ago, I scheduled a meeting with a Pastor because I felt that she needed to know who served among her. As I shared my tragic stories she did not flinch. She looked amazed and leaned toward me and asked me a question that I had never been asked before. She asked me how I was doing emotionally with the abortion.

That was the key that opened up my heart to receive healing.  I was able to revisit the event without being condemned, which gave me the liberty to grieve and release the death of my baby Grace.

I thank God for not listening to my secret desires and blessing me with three wonderful children a great husband who I have been married to for nineteen years! This man has stood beside me and has held my hand as I walked through the valleys of my past.

I pray that my testimony will give each and every one of you the courage to trust God to heal you.