I’m sure you’ve heard of Abby Johnson’s new book unPlanned, but have you had a chance to get your hands on it and curl up with it reading her amazing story?  I first blogged about it back in January, 2011 on Raising Little Saints, before I had a chance to read it.

Abby Johnson was a college student when she first got involved with Planned Parenthood and she spent many years moving up the ranks within this organization from volunteer to Director of a clinic.  In this book she shares her journey from believing she was doing the best for women by being part of this organization to having her eyes opened to the sad realities of Planned Parenthood!

From the book description:

“Abby Johnson quit her job in October 2009. That simple act became a national news story because Abby was director of a Planned Parenthood clinic in Texas who, not long after assisting in an actual abortion procedure for the first time, cross the line to join the Coalition for Life.

What happened in that clinic to cause this Planned Parenthood leader and Employee of the Year to take such drastic action? And how did Planned Parenthood react to her abrupt departure?

Join Abby as she reveals her full story for the first time in Unplanned:a heart-stopping personal drama of life-and-death encounters, a courtroom battle, and spiritual transformation. Abby’s unique vantage point from both sides of the abortion clinic property line shines light and compassion into the political controversy that surrounds this issue.

For anyone who cares about the life-versus-rights debate and helping women who face crisis pregnancies, Unplanned is a must-read.”

After reading her amazing story, all I kept thinking of was how amazing it is that the Lord uses others to open our eyes to things that we are so wrong about.  Also, just how important it is for us Catholics to stand firm on our pro-life beliefs and to not be afraid.  We are here to allow the Lord to work through us and you just never know when someone’s heart will soften and their eyes and ears will open to the horrid truths of abortion.

This past Sunday, my family participated at the local Life Chain, it was done on a main road near a very busy mall (this road is always conjested no matter what time of day you drive by).  My entire family was there helping out by holding signs and praying for the end of abortion.  One lady drove by and screamed out the window of her dark blue sadan, “you would be doing more good for this world if you were picking up garbage instead!”  Straight out of my mouth came the words, without even thinking, “God bless you and heal you!”  Later in talking with friends they helped me realize that a lot of the people that shout back at you and are apprehensive towards pro-lifers feel guilty deep down inside for having had abortions or pressuring someone to have one.  One in four women have had an abortion in the United States…that is amazing to me.  Which makes me wonder and think about lots of my own high school friends who are child-less not by choice.  They have never been able to have a child and now nearing 40 they can’t have one, how many of them have had an abortion in their youth, I wonder?  Or used birth control for years and years, tricking their bodies and then attempt to conceive.  I pray for them all the time.

I am very excited to have read this book by Abby Johnson!  To see that the Lord heals and converts hearts to those that are involved even to the deepest level with abortion!  The Lord is so good to us and forgives us for our faults, after all this is why He died for us.  What is even more exciting is that I get to meet Abby Johnson this month!  She will be a key note speaker at a local banquet that my husband and I will be at.  It will be such a great honor to be in the same room as Abby, not because I see her as a star of some sort but mainly because I am so impressed and proud of her courage!  This is the courage that the Lord speaks about – to stand up for what we believe and not be afraid.

I highly recommend unPlanned by Abby Johnson!  I received a copy of this book as part of the Catholic Company review team but I also got a second copy from a friend and I want to share it with one of my readers!  🙂  So yes, I am doing my own give away of unPlanned!  Here is what you need to do:

Don’t want to wait for the giveaway to end and want to just buy the book?  Go to The Catholic Company and buy it today!

Best wishes to the winner!
Blessings,
Erika

Fine print: I received a free copy of this book from The Catholic Company for my unbiased opinion of this book. This free book does not affect my review.  This review was written as part of the Catholic book reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on Unplanned. They are also a great source for a Catechism of the Catholic Church or a Catholic Bible.