The Writing on the Wall: The Choice

First....eeeeeeeeeeek. There were at least 40 cars at the abortion mill where I volunteer as a sidewalk counselor when I arrived at ten o'clock. Few left till an hour after the abortionist arrived at 11:30...so most appear to have been surgical abortions (rather than medical or pill abortions.) This also meant that the pre-born babies were likely at least 7-weeks old. Very sad. The cars were pouring in.

We had several encounters. Many people stopped to take our pro-life literature, which is always encouraging. One man came over and told us he had nothing to do with the baby - in fact, he was gay. He told us he brought the woman (a friend), but being gay, had never really thought much about abortion. He'd always bought into the idea of "my body, my choice." However, he said, as he pulled into the lot, he was a bit surprised to find himself repulsed. He was taken aback by his response.

"You mean you felt it was wrong?" I asked. He nodded. He took our literature, but didn't bring it inside the clinic to the woman he had brought.

I stopped the car of a young couple as they were about to enter the parking lot, and asked if they would consider a free ultrasound. They said yes immediately. Sadly, our usual RV with a mobile ultrasound that parks just down the street was not there due to the holiday season. I had to try to talk them into waiting a week for the ultrasound. They pulled over to the side of the road, and for the next forty-five minutes or so, one other counselor and I offered every reason we could think of for why they should delay this decision till after the ultrasound and being counseled by the nurses at the pregnancy resource center.

Initially, they were very resistant, but slowly they began reconsidering. Honestly, I was surprised by how long they remained there listening to us. In fact, they didn't seem to want to leave. We pulled out all the stops - the humanity of the baby, the dangers to the mother both physically and emotionally, the terrible reputation of the abortion center itself, the infractions and suspensions of its doctors, the testimony of those who deeply regretted aborting their children, the spiritual significance and value of God's clear admonition not to murder, as well as the Biblical portrait of children in the womb as already known and loved by God. The woman was listening, but solemnly stone-faced and silent. The man was more receptive, but said it was up to his girlfriend. Then, I showed her the picture of L-- a mama who chose life many months ago. L has become my dear friend. I visit her and her new baby often. The picture on my phone was of L and her baby in the rocking chair a Cities4Life supporter had just bought for her. I'd delivered it just a few days ago. L and the baby were both smiling. The young mama in the car gazed at the picture, and finally smiled herself. I felt a glimmer of hope.
"We try to help the mamas who choose life in any way we can," I told her, "Through the pregnancy and beyond."

For a very long time, she scrutinized the picture of a 5-week-old pre-born baby we showed her. (That's how far along she is.) While I spoke with her, the other counselor set up an appointment with the pregnancy center. Then she handed her phone to the young mama, and the nurse from the pregnancy center spoke with her. Meanwhile, the father agreed that if she would keep the baby, he would support her, and would do what he needed to do to raise the child. As we talked, he admitted he had grown up without a father, and he seemed sad that was the case. He did not want that for his own child. Finally, the couple agreed that they would go to the pregnancy center and arrange an ultrasound appointment.

Just yesterday, after church, two lovely families had brought me "blessing bags", filled with supplies for new mamas who choose life. One had gone to amazing lengths, and the bag was huge and brimming with supplies. She had told me she knew that God would show me just who this special gift should go to.

I told the young mama that I was stepping out in faith that she would do the right thing and choose life. Would she accept our gift which we give to mamas who choose life? She said yes, and gave me permission to take a photo of her with the blessing bag to send to the family who had made it. Anyway, they did finally drive away, and we counted this a "shaky save." After a few minutes, they circled back, which made us want to cry. However, they just drove by and did not return. We were there another hour, long after their appointment would have been, and they had not returned.

Later, I texted them telling them I was praying for them, and eager to hear how their counseling session went. (prayers appreciated! I figured if I spoke as though the counseling by the Pregnancy Resource Center was a done deal, it might sway them to stick to the decision to let their baby live.)

They believe in God, know abortion is wrong, but think Jesus forgives them, so it is fine to disregard His commands. We tried our best to cut through that twisted logic. Now it is up to God. Still, none of us wanted to leave. We wanted to stand there, blocking the driveway to insure they did not return.

But we knew we couldn't.

So we prayed and dispersed. I had a bag of supplies for L, the "save" we had just given the rocking chair. I scurried over to her place, while praying that the new young couple would remain far away from the terrible abortion center. When I arrived, I got to hold L's sweet baby, who smiled and cooed at me. All the stress of the day was washed away.
"You may have saved a life today," I told L.
"How?" she asked.
"I showed a new mama the picture of you holding your baby and rocking. It seemed to make her think maybe she could let her baby live too."
"I hope so," said L, cuddling her precious child in her arms.

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