Project 5:17

Let me begin with a story:

A young boy found a butterfly Chrysalis and stopped to watch it as it was obvious that the butterfly inside was attempting to break free from its Chrysalis. Feeling sorry for the struggle that it was having to make, he took out his Boy Scout knife and carefully slit the Chrysalis open to "help" the butterfly.
It flopped out of the Chyrsalis to the ground where it eventually died because its wings were too weak to fly. What the boy intended as "helpful" was actually the butterfly's death sentence!

It is no mistake that the "logo" of Project 5:17 is a butterfly. It displays the fact that we are a new creation in Christ, vaguely representing the former being. There is more to it, though.

So often, women who are preparing to go through the process of abortion recovery are asked why they would visit past wounds. Many of these women know they are forgiven, hearing that their sin is "under the blood". Yes, God forgives. He offers so much more, though. God offers freedom from the guilt and shame of our past choices through His healing.

Just like the butterfly struggling to emerge, it can be hard to watch a person go through the process of healing. Revisiting old wounds and regret is never easy. This struggle is the very thing that gives the person the strength to fly, though.

If you are someone who is watching this struggle, please don't try to stop it. It is for good. If you are the emerging butterfly, please know that it is a hard process (the hardest part is the first call), but it doesn't last forever and soon you'll be soaring in the wind, and drinking the sweet nectar of freedom!

Written by: Leigh Ramsey