Hi ladies,
If you’re living in the States right now, then I don’t need to explain why I (Gabby) am sending this email. It’s been a lot.
Even though I’m sure even in this small group here we range widely on our stances on the topic of abortion, it’s still exhausting.
It’s exhausting opening social media and seeing your body being used as a political pawn.
It’s exhausting processing hypotheticals and wondering if there’s a safe space to process your questions and pain with other Christians, let alone on social media. (Spoiler alert: social media is rarely a safe place to process anything!)
It’s exhausting having your own trauma, or the trauma of a loved one, retriggered.
It’s exhausting having the conversations this topics raises with our loved ones in real life. Wading through the deeply nuanced and emotionally charged waters this news inevitably stirs.
Some of you are teachers, mothers, caregivers, therapists— who are all wondering how you help the younger women in your life navigate these issues and are feeling overwhelmed or helpless.
I fell asleep tired and emotionally spent last night, only to open my phone and end up right back where I started.
So this is an email to say that I see you. And to say if you need a safe, non-judgemental place to process your feelings you may hit reply to this email. Chris will not see it, it’ll come directly to me, woman-to-woman.
I don’t have answers and I won’t try to offer them, but sometimes it helps to send your questions and emotional process into the ether. I guess that’s what I’m doing here a little too.
But I know if I’m feeling the weight of it all, I’m not the only one. I think especially as Christians this topic can feel so nuanced.
Many of us became Christians because we value and cherish the sanctity of life— all life. And the quality and sustainability of that life matters too. We’re weary from having the sacredness of our faith weaponized in politics. We feel largely politically homeless anyway. We became Christians because we were drawn to the Gospel, the good news of loving our neighbor as ourselves, only to feel confused and conflicted when it comes to issues like this (and likely many more!)
Here’s some things I keep telling myself these last two days:
We are all beloved. I need wisdom and time and space to acknowledge the belovedness of my fellow human.
I do not have to feel socially pressured into anything. I get to draw the boundaries around my time, energy and care in a way that helps me feel loved, and those around me feel loved.
While social media is a fantastic tool for networking, education and information, it’s not where we live in real life. It’s okay to disconnect as often as you need to ground yourself.
I am worthy of taking up space, time and rest. You are too.
While I cannot fix all the hurt and pain in the world, I can steward my own patch of life well. Often that looks like looking after myself first. Take a shower, go for a walk, eat a buttery croissant. Recalibrate as much as you need. These are spiritual practices too.
Pray if I can. Pray for wisdom, pray for peace. Pray for babies and their mothers AND their fathers. Pray for humanity and pray for myself. For humility to remember I don’t have all the answers. I am just one small human, I am mighty and weak all at the same time.
Sending you all love this morning and praying for each and every one of you.
Gabby x
To the women of Storied…
Good morning Gabby, thank you for the kind words. I live in Washington DC and it is raining. Everything has felt so heavy, your message is a good reminder to not isolate and lean in to our communities during this time. Keep going! -Ashley
Gabby, thank you so much for this. I live in Florida and politically, it is a hot mess there right now, and yesterday’s news is making it worse. I definitely feel politically homeless as a Christian for a number of reasons. Thank you for reminding us that we are seen and heard and loved. ❤️