Spark It Up!!!: Peace to the Would Be Mothers

As Mother's Day approaches this year I am once again reminded that there are many women (and men too) out there who suffer from the pain of a child aborted at one time in their life- whether by choice or through miscarriage also called spontaneous abortion. Mother's Day serves as a reminder of lives not allowed, not lived, maybe never even fully acknowledged, but for many it comes with great pain and regret.

This week Kilo and I discovered an amazing place with a very inspiring history and undoubtedly an important future to many hurting people, to mothers, families and this nation.

The National Memorial for the Unborn, in Chattanooga Tennessee, is dedicated to healing generations of pain associated with the loss of aborted children. On this site where 35,000 children died, the memory of unborn children is honored.

The Memorial features a fifty foot granite "Wall of Names" which holds small brass plates with words of remembrance placed by mothers, fathers and other family members from all over the country.

The Memorial also includes the original painting "I Will Hold You In Heaven," historical markers, and a Remembrance Garden. The Pool of Tears is dedicated to the memory of children lost to miscarriage.

The U.S.Supreme Court legalized abortion in 1973. In 1975, the Chattanooga Womans Clinic (CWC) opened its doors as the only abortion clinic in Chattanooga. In 1985, God began banding together Christians who believed in the sanctity of life and were willing to put their faith on the line for those unborn children. From street side counsel and praying these Christians began rescue and soon were able to establish the AAA Women's Services clinic directly across from the CWC. That first year AAA saw 312 women and offered them help.

Christian men began meeting Sunday mornings in the CWC parking lot and asking the Lord specifically to either save or remove the people who worked at the CWC. This is where the story gets really interesting so please go here.

Today there is no abortion clinic in Chattanooga, but there is a memorial to those who have visited there or any other abortion clinic. They also have plaques from Norma McCorvey, known as Jane Roe, who recants her involvement in the abortion movement and Sandra Cano, known as Mary Doe from the Doe vs. Bolton case that served as a companion case to Roe vs Wade.

Interestingly, miscarriages are a very common occurrence. It is estimated that approximately 1 in 4 pregnancies end in miscarriage. There are about 4.4 million confirmed pregnancies in the U.S. every year. From 900,000 to 1 million of those end in pregnancy losses EVERY year.

The Memorial for the Unborn provides a new sense of comfort and closure for many. Whether abortion or miscarriage has taken place, there is a need for healing and letting go. This place allows for that to begin. The gates and doors to the memorial are always open and the offer you peace as you enter in.

Happy Mother's Day! May it be a day of peace for you.