The Gift of Life

I counseled a new mom to choose life on the mobile ultrasound RV yesterday. I have been a pro-life sidewalk counselor at the abortion mill for a year now, but I had never yet counseled a couple on the mobile ultrasound RV which is parked next to the mill. I'd been trained to do so a couple of months ago, but had not yet had the opportunity.

What a thrill! The young couple was very likable, and while there was some concern about whether they would choose life for their unborn child, they both expressed horror at what they learned upon googling what happens during abortions. They thanked me repeatedly for keeping them out of that horrible place.

Nonetheless, there was a bit of a nail-biter moment when they asked to speak with each other alone for a moment right before going on the ultrasound. Depending on the age of the baby, as determined by the ultrasound, it was the current boyfriend's child...or the past boyfriend's child. Both the nurse and I feared they would bolt when we reminded them that no matter who the father was, the baby was no less a human being created in God's image, with intrinsic value. We breathed a sigh of relief when they said they were ready for the ultrasound. The baby was too small to find on the ultrasound, but we will reschedule soon so we can show them their little one. This suggested the baby was likely the child of the current boyfriend, which was lucky for the baby. They unequivocally chose life, and already have names if it is a little girl. I hope that is the decision they would have reached if the baby had not been the current boyfriend's child. Only God knows the answer to that.

They seemed genuinely interested in my spiel about why God was logically worth believing in, and asked if I would continue to counsel them over the course of their pregnancy. Of course I would!  Their thrill over my counsel for abstinence, purity, and following God's plan for their lives as outlined in the Bible didn't go over quite as big as one would hope, but I gave them a whole bunch of literature to read and ponder. They hugged both me and the wonderful nurse when we finished. (Being hugged after my encouragement that they read what God has to say about sex outside of marriage seems to me to be a good sign.) What a blessing for me to share the message of hope and life alongside a committed and lovely pro-life nurse to a young couple who desperately need to hear it. It was a wonderful Christmas gift for me.

As they prepared to leave, the nurse urged them to read the Biblical account of Mary. Her situation was not totally unlike theirs - poor, young, unmarried, frightened, unplanned pregnancy...  God, of course, can always make a way, but what if she had aborted Jesus? All I can say is I am really glad she didn't.

I texted the young couple last night, thanking them for the privilege and blessing of sharing the excitement of their new baby with them.
"It is a blessing!" they texted back, "We cannot wait to meet him!"
The gift of life. Merry Christmas.
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If you are interested in this wonderful ministry that helps women in crisis pregnancies, please contact Lisa Metzger at lisametzger@cities4life.org
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^{Luke 1: 26-38}

 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,  to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary.  And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.  He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,  and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.”  And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.