You could have heard a pin drop throughout this heartfelt testimony at the Village Church in Berrien Springs on Sabbath evening.
Patti Jackson — Resolving Abortion
As a fourth generation SDA, she was involved in a youth group and wanted to stay pure until marriage. When she was 14 she had a boyfriend who was 17. He pursued her. They pushed the envelope a little more each time. When she was 15 she lost her purity. Two months later she was pregnant.
Her boyfriend took her to planned parenthood. In California you can get an abortion without parental involvement. She did.
This experience locked her heart with shame and guilt. Made it calloused. Two years later, she became pregnant again from the same boyfriend. Once more, she went to Planned Parenthood. Her mother went with her this time, although she hoped she would change her mind. Abortion #2 happened.
Now, a haunting question lingered in her heart. “Who would want me, now?” [This is a lie from the Enemy.]
“Remember, O LORD, Your tender mercies and Your lovingkindnesses, for they are from of old. Do not remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions; According to Your mercy remember me, for Your goodness’ sake, O LORD” (Psalm 25:6-7)
Life went on. She went to college, and Adventist College. There, some boys were just like her first boyfriend, after whatever they could get, and some were nicer. After college, she dated a guy for 2 years, and they eventually ‘shacked up’. She became pregnant for the third time, and decided to have the child. She became a single mother at the age 24. When she held that baby in her arms for the first time, conviction overwhelmed her. She experienced a mixture of love and joy for this precious child and sadness for the two that were aborted (killed). She loved being a mom.
“Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no path to a city in which to dwell. They were hungry and thirsty; their soul fainted within them. Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He delivered them from their distress” (Psalm 107:4-6).
At the age 27, she met an Adventist man and they married. They had two more children. Eleven years later, the marriage ended when her husband left her for someone else. Now she is 38 and single again. This beautiful verse in Isaiah 54 became precious to her,
“Do not be afraid, for you will not be put to shame; do not be intimidated, for you will not be humiliated. For you will forget the shame of your youth and will remember no more the reproach of your widowhood. For your husband is your Maker—the LORD of Hosts is His name—the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; He is called the God of all the earth” (Isaiah 54:4,5).
Through the years, Patti clung to God. Her youngest child is graduating from college now.
A couple years ago a childhood friend came into her life. They had known each other in youth group 35-40 years ago. One evening, as they communicated about spiritual things, he asked her a question “When was the moment in your life when you knew that God was there?”
Patti’s answered with tears of joy and sadness “When I held my first child in my arms.” He also confessed to having two abortions when he was young. They grew close together.
They are now husband and wife.
Robert and Patti Jackson
Final Thoughts From Patti
The reason god hates divorce is because it is hard on people.
This is the fifth time she has shared this story.
A baby in the womb is not just tissue. It is the body of a person. My body my choice is a lie.
Many men didn’t want the woman to make that choice, they need encouragement too.
God saves us from our sin, not in our sin (Matthew 1:21).
The hardest part was forgiving myself. The mercy and grace of Jesus Christ helps us do that. Dear Lord, Your strength gives us courage.
“Sin is the greatest of all evils, and it is ours to pity and help the sinner. There are many who err, and who feel their shame and their folly. They are hungry for words of encouragement. They look upon their mistakes and errors, until they are driven almost to desperation. These souls we are not to neglect. If we are Christians, we shall not pass by on the other side, keeping as far as possible from the very ones who most need our help. When we see human beings in distress, whether through affliction or through sin, we shall never say, This does not concern me” (DA 504.3).
You could have heard a pin drop in this large sanctuary. Praise God.
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“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound” (Isaiah 61:1).