Late Summer Edition: Ripple Effect

Ripple Effect:
a spreading effect or series of consequences caused by a single action or event.

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As a young girl who grew up on the Pacific Coast, I have clocked thousands of hours with my toes in the sand. Sailing, kayaking or building "ball rolls" with my father (think Disneyland Matterhorn, only in sand). I spent many summers skipping small rocks into cove waters at Catalina Island, continually fascinated by how far I could get my rock to skip before ultimately sinking.

We do that in life! Skip rocks, I mean. The "life rocks" (as I call them), symbolize events in which we've participated. The ripple effect of our actions often impact others, either positively or negatively. I'll give you an example of each.

Tuesday, September 1st was the anniversary of my former in-laws. They met while 6 and 8 years old in a one room school house in Cuba, New York. They teased each other in the classroom, walked together in the snow both ways to school, stuck together through World War II. They got married, moved to the West Coast, raised five amazing children together (the youngest being my son's father). They would have been married 64 years on Tuesday. Sadly, my mother-in-law died on August 12th, just 20 days shy of their anniversary. Her life was amazing! She exuded her faith, loved her family, and was truly the Proverbs 31 woman I so strive to be. She was a "rock" in my life and had an unbelievable ripple effect on me personally as well as on my son Davis (her grandson). Her children, grandchildren, great grandson and extended family were positively impacted by her presence.

Unfortunately abortion has a rippling effect on families too... only this time it is a negative impact. As we quote on the ARIN website:

"One abortion, through a ripple effect can touch the heart of 40-50 people."

"Wow Stacy, that's quite a big number!" you're saying. Yes it is... but think about it! My first abortion was at the age of 18, I'm now 47 years old (or 30-17 as I often say). That's three decades of my life that have occurred since I initially laid on that cold steel table. Each person whom I've met since that day has been impacted by MY choice. How? Because I was changed forever that day. We, as life givers, are altered (consciously or unconsciously) when we choose NOT to give life. There are people affected by my abortion who did not write the check, put on the gown or drive the car. Who you ask? My son, my parents and my grandparents. My ex-husband and future grandchildren. My nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins, friends and neighbors. A family changed due to the ripple effect of a "life rock" called abortion.

Consider the others that may be affected by an abortion experience:

A parent/grandparent who talked, supported or drove their daughter/granddaughter to the abortion or may not have even known of the pregnancy of their son/grandson or daughter/granddaughter.

The husband/boyfriend whose wife / girlfriend chose abortion against his better jugement, consent or even without his knowledge.

Children who were told their lives would be easier because a younger sibling was aborted.

The friend who drove a pregnant friend to the abortion facility and brought home an "un-pregnant" friend.

A family member, friend, counselor or clergy, who tried to talk a mother/father out of an abortion but failed.

The nurse, clinic worker or abortion doctor who later regrets their participation.

Abortion trauma does not discriminate ~ luckily neither does recovery!

We, at ARIN, are helping to heal individuals and families. We encourage and extend the opportunity for women, men and family members to share how their abortion impacted their lives and the people around them. Their personal testimonies of abortion and then recovery, send a "ripple effect" of healing and hope to society.

Kourtner Kardashian, a 20-something celebrity, recently chose life for her unborn due to the testimonies she read online of those hurt emotionally by abortion. Here's her quote:

"I looked online, and I was sitting on the bed hysterically crying, reading these stories of people who felt so guilty from having an abortion. I was reading these things of how many people are traumatized by [abortion] afterward. I was just sitting there crying, thinking, 'I can't do that.'"

We don't know whether Kourtney read testimonies on our Abortion Recovery CARE Directory (AbortionRecovery.org) website, or another site. Our message board of individuals sharing how abortion affected them is quite extensive. You may read stories here, if you feel so inclined: How Has Abortion Affected You?

We do know that the healing of individuals and families has a rippling effect on marriages, family structure, friends, neighbors and community overall.

Thanks to each of you who support our Mission and Vision. We are greatly appreciative of your ongoing support and dedication to the people "left behind" after abortion.

If you, or someone you know, may be hurting ~ please send them our way. We'd love to have a "ripple effect" on their lives!