Victorious!

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Today marks twenty-four years since I had my abortion. Most of those years I desperately avoided even thinking about what I had done, and I never acknowledged my baby. Four years ago, everything changed when I finally surrendered my story to God. Instead of running away from my past mistakes, I knew God wanted me to face them head on. On the twentieth anniversary of my abortion, I went inside the former abortion clinic for the first time. It was the scariest thing I had ever done but also brought me so much healing.

Since then, every June 19th, I do something special in honor of the baby I aborted. This year I decided to do something permanent. I’ve had a tattoo with the names of my living children for several years but today, I added two butterflies to represent Taylor, the baby I aborted, and Micah, the baby I miscarried.
I also had the word “Victorious” tattooed on my wrist. This word has meant a lot to me for many years. Romans 8:37 says, “But in all these things we are completely victorious through God who showed His love for us.” As I have allowed God to heal my heart and use my story, I’ve realized that because of His great love for us, we really can triumph victoriously over the things that once had so much power over us. I decided to have it tattooed on my wrist as a reminder for the current battles I face and those to come in the future.
After getting my tattoos this afternoon, I went back to the former clinic and spent some time praying and listening to the Father. I’m not sure how, but this place I once absolutely abhorred, has become a peaceful place where God meets me so profoundly. Being there no longer affects me negatively or causes fear or shame to arise within me. With God’s grace and guidance, I have triumphed victoriously over the abortion I had when I was 16 and the clinic where it happened. The anniversary is still hard, there are still tears, and I still wish I had made a different choice. But God has turned what the enemy meant for evil, into something beautiful for His glory.
He has made me victorious!

Tori

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