The Her Story Project offers a place of inclusion and solidarity among women who have walked through an unplanned pregnancy. Sometimes when we go through tough times, it’s easy to feel isolated. The Her Story Project is one avenue to remind women that they are not alone.
“A combination of fear and pressure from some of the people that were close to me is what led me to have an abortion. If you had asked me a week before I found out I was pregnant if I’d ever have an abortion, I’d have said no… I think when people talk about abortion they think that it’s an easy fix, but for me, it was so far from that.”
Finding out you’re pregnant unexpectedly can be traumatic. The thought of how this pregnancy will suddenly change your life and halt your plans can be terrifying. It can be scary to share your news with friends and family, so you may feel stuck, discouraged, alone, and overwhelmed.
In Ashlynn’s story, the fear she felt and her desire to be, “pleasing” to her family, led her to make a decision that would also become traumatic. She decided to have not one, but two abortions. Ashlynn’s decisions at that time in her life show us just how strong our desire to please others in our lives can be; even to the detriment of our own well-being.
“I grew up in the Church, I knew about Jesus, I knew about forgiveness, but I think when you experience something like abortion, it’s really hard to think that that applies to you.”
It’s important to remember that your worth is not tethered to others’ opinions or your decisions. Our worth is found only in how God sees us, and he reminds us repeatedly of our importance to Him and that he loves us despite our faults and mistakes. In Him, we can find refuge.
Ashlynn shares with us her story of hope and redemption—her journey to loving herself again and becoming a loving mother of two boys. Her story embodies the strength we have as women to overcome any hard obstacle placed before us. She reminds us that through God, all is possible. Even in our darkest moments, the Lord will always be the light we need to see us through.
Let Ashlynn’s story be a reminder that all of us are human, we all make mistakes and if we seek the Lord, he will set us free from the burden on our hearts. Ashlynn now uses her story to empower other women to face their unplanned pregnancies without fear.
Share Your Story
We want to hear and share your story. By sharing your story with others, you can help empower women to face their unplanned pregnancies without fear and grow toward healing. Sharing your story could help another woman facing the same season feel seen and understood.
If you’re interested in sharing your story, click here to fill out a submission form.
Emily Greene
Emily is the Development and Communications Coordinator at The Pregnancy Network.