Every Hair is Numbered

I wasn't going to go serve as a sidewalk counselor at the abortion mill on my regularly scheduled day, Monday. I had been feeling sick Sunday, then had a migraine, and then slept very little. But Monday dawned, and despite little sleep I was awake early. I decided I would go.

When I arrived, I felt the usual angst and dread, and sense of evil. My chest hurt. I have experienced that before when very anxious. One of the other counselors saw me and said she had a sense that I was going to be used today. I felt chills.
"You are going to speak today on the microphone!" she predicted.
"I am?" I quivered. (Not if I die of a heart attack first which is what I think I may be having...)
Before I was able to fulfill this great joy, we found out the abortion clinic had applied for the public broadcast sound system on the side walk. They don't want to use it; they just don't want the sidewalk counselors to use it. When we can speak on the sound system, the women in the back rooms waiting for abortions can hear us plead to them to come out. Some do actually leave and make the choice for life. The abortion workers do not want that. They make a lot of money from the abortions. In fact, they won't let the women keep their phones when they go into the back room, since so many friends will text and plead with the women to let their babies live at that last critical moment. So there is a weekly battle applying for the sound permit. Only one is granted. Sometimes we get it. Sometimes the abortionists get it.

My friend had a megaphone, and we didn't need a permit to use that. So I bravely (for me) picked it up and made one brief plea to remember that the Bible tells us God had knit that baby together in the womb, and every cell was lovingly created for His purpose, every hair planned and numbered. It was a short utterance, but now I knew even this terrifying thing could be done by someone as timid as I.

Then a car came down the road towards the abortion mill. I stepped into the street, and waved to them. It was a mother and what seemed to be a young teen. I motioned for them to roll down the window. The young girl looked frightened. The mother looked shell-shocked. To my surprise, they stopped. Most of the people who pull into the mill give us the finger, or swear at us, or look stonily ahead. Few ever engage with us.

The mother of the teen rolled down her window.
I pulled out my booklet of all the resources that Cities4Life offers to young women who choose life.
I told them my name, and asked if they would consider instead of going in the clinic, to go into the RV with the mobile ultrasound unit. This RV is staffed with nurses who hope to offer the alternative to abortion -- choosing life for the baby.

"It's free," I told them, "If you go in that clinic, you will pay. And that is not a safe place. Do you know it was recently closed down because of illegal procedures? And both the doctors have had their licenses revoked. Please consider the free ultrasound. They are not after your money, and they are kind and gentle."
I glanced at the teen. She looked close to tears.
"Are you frightened, honey?" I asked.
She nodded. I showed them my booklet, with the full page of resources and services in the area that can help them. Believe me, I was stumbling over words, but praying in my heart.

The mother of the girl paused, and took a deep puff on a cigarette. She glanced at the teen who had not spoken but was looking at the pictures of the baby in the booklet I had given her.
"OK," she said.
I could have kissed her. I walked them to the ultrasound RV where I passed them off to the nurses. Then I stood a few feet from the RV and prayed.

About fifteen minutes later, they emerged. The girl clutched something in her hand. The mother said, "Well, now we go home and tell my husband the good news." She was not being sarcastic. Something miraculous had happened in the RV. My friend, another counselor, gave the girl a gift card to BabiesRUs, and a hand knitted bonnet for the baby. We walked with them to their car. As the girl sat down, I noticed what was in her hand. The ultrasound picture of her baby. The baby was clear as a bell.

"May I see?" I asked.
She smiled slightly and handed me the photo.
"Oh my! Look at that precious head, and bottom and legs...!" I handed the photo back to her and told her my name and phone number were on the booklet, just inside the cover. If she ever wanted to talk, or had questions, I would be there.
"God bless you in this decision," I said.

As they drove away, I no longer felt like I was getting sick, or headachey, and the fatigue of a sleepless night was pushed aside. A precious life was spared. I cannot tell you how blessed I felt.

When I got home, I read a Bible study by Max Lucado. I loved what he said about following God's call:

"Does Jesus still do it? Does he still use simple folks like us to change the world?God doesn't call the qualified. He qualifies the called. Don't let Satan convince you otherwise. He will try. He will tell you that God has an IQ requirement or an entry fee. That he employs only specialists and experts, governments and high-powered personalities. When Satan whispers such lies, dismiss him with this truth: God stampeded the first-century society with swaybacks, not thoroughbreds. Before Jesus came along, the disciples were loading trucks, coaching soccer, and selling Slurpee drinks at the convenience store. Their collars were blue, and their hands were calloused, and there is no evidence that Jesus chose them because they were smarter or nicer than the guy next door. The one thing they had going for them was a willingness to take a step when Jesus said, "Follow me."

To see how you can become involved in this frontline ministry, go to cities4life.org.

****************
Psalm 72: 4-7
4 May he defend the cause of the poor of the people,
give deliverance to the children of the needy,
and crush the oppressor!
5 May they fear you while the sun endures,
and as long as the moon, throughout all generations!
6 May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass,
like showers that water the earth!
7 In his days may the righteous flourish,
and peace abound, till the moon be no more!

Luke 12:7
And not one of them is forgotten before God. 7 Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.