Honor for Life Award recipients share their thoughts on the award

Kathryn Plasencia

Apparently, there is someone complaining about Juda's work, claiming that the Honor for Life Award is "audacious", silly or even offensive. This is my response to that:

I've never felt like a hero for bringing any of my children into the world. In fact, there have been times that I've even felt guilty for having so many when other would-be parents have none, or for bringing children into a world where they must experience pain. With my rape-conceived son, I often felt a lesser bond than with my others (though I didn't realize it at first).

But Juda changed that. Or, rather, God used her to change me. Through the her work organizing the first Honor for Life Awards, the memory of how my son was conceived returned to me. (My subconscious had blocked the truth from me for years.) With that painful realization, I was able to understand the difficulty I had in feeling my love for him the way I feel towards my other children. I told Juda, and she respected me, offering only kind words and encouragement.

As time went on and I prepared for the Gala, I was able to overcome the barrier between myself and my son. I was able to truly love him completely for the first time. Being honored on that stage was not a "pat on the back" or a "high five" to me, nor was it an acknowledgement of my female ability to bring life into the world. It was an opportunity to say, "Yes, I was raped. Yes, I conceived. Yes, I gave birth. And I AM STILL VALUABLE!"

Each and every mother deserves to be honored, regardless of how their children were conceived. Whether or not women feel like heroes, they are! And those who stand up against even steeper odds than the average happily-married couple, who choose to go against the grain to do what they feel is right, who give breath to a child they did not plan to carry, who put a child's welfare above their own and God's gift of life above their pain.... they deserve an extra measure of love, grace, and recognition.

Thank you, Juda, for being an instrument of healing to me and so many others. God bless you!

Connie Hong

"Honor award ..... I felt I didn't need to be honored for doing what my Jesus said ..... Thou Shalt Not Kill. God knew my child before he was in my womb. Who am I to take his life? But after a few months I chose to go and meet with Juda for this so called Honors Award YES.. YES I did . This Honors Award ....... For keeping and not aborting my child from my childhood rape from my step dad. This Honors Award ! What...... What. ..... What do I need to be Honored for my shame my guilt and our family dirty secret. Honored for people looking down at me and blaming me and saying I caused it. Honor Award..... for guilt and shame brought upon me . WOW Really! Now let me tell you how the flood gates of heaven opened up on me ! I believe God placed Juda in my pathway not a second to soon.She opened her home her heart and a overwhelming love and compassion on me. Through God's love and mercy he placed a angel in the mist of all the women and children of this world that live at the hand's of our rapist. To open the window of heaven to remove all our pain and hurts that haunt us and sometimes consume us that we can breath or function in this world as productive citzens in life.

November 2011 my voice was heard for the first time . YES AT THIS SO CALLED HONORS AWARD....... Brought me victory in the name of Jesus. The walls of hell were torn down on this November night.... my cries and pains were heard . We were shamed but we are shamless. All fear -pain - trama- guilt. And shame has been washed away . Today I stand before you to say that This So Called Honors award has set me free no depression meds no hospital stays in the mental ward. My marriage is restored and my kids are seeing their mom for the first time. I am heaven bound. I can and have now been able to stand and witness to other girls that are walking that long and hellish road that I walked for 28 years. And now and most of all I want to thank my Jesus. And his Angel Juda. Juda I love you. God has sent you on your mission and he will reward you for being a faithful servant . May God Bless You in all you do ........... And now for Juda's momma that was the beginning of Juda's mission her momma who walked the road ... who was redeemed and set free. Heaven has gained a wonderful Angel. May I someday redeem my hug when I to arrive in heaven ............ So last if you're hurting and carrying this pain in your life. ... you too can be set free thru Gods angel set here before you ........ go try it. Honors award...... no judging just open arms...... go rest in the arms of a angel.."

Tauheeda Jabaar

Juda, I must say that I was very honored and absoulutely felt the overwhelming love from the beautiful people who attended the Choices for Life banquet that I was invited to be a part of in Humble, Texas. Thank you for the selfless work that you are doing!God has His hand in this...For so many years I kept the secret of my violent conception a secret from everyone due to the shame and violence that surrounded me, ESPECIALLY in my last marriage. Having had 9 children (in 3 violent marriages) I didn't want to risk the naysayers who would judge me for the hardships I encountered all my life because "I should have known better than to have all those kids, anyway". So I kept quiet and my self-esteem stayed low. Not believing in abortion or birth control, I concieved 9 wonderful children in eight pregnancies. Your wonderful program re-affirmed my thoughts that I was worth it, should be proud of myself and had so very much to offer the world! I've felt like a new person, "a real hero".Today my children honor and love me unconditionally! Every bit of recognition empowers me more and more and validates the girl in me that already knew that she ROCKS! Here is a little clip from a chapter of my book DANCING BY MYSELF. The most ironic thing about this video is that the very daughter that was actually concieved by my rape is also playing my part in this clip! I shot the scenes and my oldest son did the editing on it! Most of my children work with me on my projects. I love them.

Michelle

I have been invited to receive an Honor for Life Award from CHOICES4LIFE in Kansas City, MO in June. I am honored that someone thinks of me in such way. I have never thought of keeping my baby as anything special. She is the one who saved my life, I think of my daughter as the hero! I just love my daughter, I never gave much thought to how she was conceived or how others would see it.

Private support group for birth/adoptive mothers, and children of rape conception.

Life Matters