I remembered fellow veteran counselors' advice to always tell them my name, and get their name right away. I usually forget to do that but this time, remembered. "F" was very pleasant, as she told me her name with a heavy Spanish accent. I asked her how far along she was. She shrugged her shoulder. I asked if she was here for an abortion. She nodded. I told her about our free ultrasound and then launched into a good fifteen minute spiel, showing the page of Cities4life community resources for crisis pregnancies, showing the pictures of preborn babies at different stages of development, telling the horrific record of the doctors in the abortion clinic and how it has been shut down in the past, and then the piece d' resistance, pulled out my little fetal models. I talked about how God created each little baby with a unique purpose that only that child could fulfill. She smiled and held the little fetal model. I launched into my spiritual discussion now, of how I could see she was conflicted with the thought of aborting, and that God put that check in her conscience for a reason, and it was God that had put us in her path. She looked beseechingly into my eyes.
"Can you pull over and park and I will walk you to the ultrasound?" I asked, certain that we had a likely "save" on our hands. I was ready to break out the cymbals and trumpets.
She then spoke in a stream of Spanish to the girl in the back. The girl said, "She doesn't speak English. But she isn't here for an abortion. She can't have a baby. Her tubes are tied. She is here for an interview."
"At the abortion clinic?" I asked the girl.
"No, at the agency down the street."
"Oh."
Never mind.
I told the girl she could hang on to our literature in case she ever knew of someone considering an abortion. The family smiled and waved and drove on, past the abortion mill, to their interview in the offices at the end of the street. I still chuckle in between my bouts of embarrassment at how congenially the whole family listened to my pleas to not get an abortion when no one in that car was interested in an abortion. It was perhaps my most eloquent 15 minute speech ever..laid on completely uncomprehending ears, and non-abortive ones at that.
Sigh.
Since I heartily believe that every car God stops for me, He stops for a reason, I know that there was a purpose that I am not privy to. Perhaps that young teen absorbed the message and she will never drive that road one day with intent to destroy her baby. Or maybe I just needed a dose of humiliation. A little humiliation goes a long way in dampening a prideful spirit, which is always of value. I may never know the full reason for the car pulling over.
My wonderful fellow counselor Celia reminded me that it is not just the abortion-minded women that God brings to us. Our "mission field" is everyone who comes into our sphere of influence. We can have a positive impact for a culture of life and of faith to everyone we meet. One never knows the seeds that are planted when one is standing for the love and glory of God.
It was good she reminded me of that, as the Spanish speaking family drove away. I wondered how God would use my words to His glory when two out of three of those people had no idea what I was saying. Fortunately, God speaks all languages, and can turn the most useless words into nuggets of gold.
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Years ago during my first year as aBSF Children's Leader, I was very discouraged. My eight graders,those that had not quit, didn't listen, didn't do their homework, didn' memorize their verses...I as not looking forward to returning after Christmas break. Then I heard a woman on the radio say that even when kids appear to not hear, the Word is being planted in their heart and will be there for them to pull out, when they need it most. That young girl understood what you were saying and may well be a catalyst to save babies among her friends.
ReplyDeletewise words! That is what my friend Celia indicated as well. When we speak words of truth and faith, they never return void. I so need to be reminded of that time and time again!!!!
DeleteOften God wants our obedience. I remember when Jay told me he had to be at this place (top of a mountain) at a certain time (middle of a blizzard). He was adamant that he had to be there... His dad and I took him there and with many tears I left him that night at the spot he told us God told him to be. He said he had to be obedient. The next day a man taking pictures at the exact spot Jay was at noticed that Jay had very little equipment to survive another night. He took him home with him -- ended up he was a pastor who had lost his wife about a month earlier. When I thanked that pastor he said Jay saved his life as much as he saved Jays'. Act of insane obedience. They remain friends to this day (6 years later). Do what the mighty G-d tells you to do no matter how crazy or foolish it may seem at the time -- there is a reason seen or unseen.
ReplyDeleteRose, that is an amazing story!!! Thank you so much for sharing that. We may never know the reason, but yes, obedience to God's prompting should never be ignored.
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