It was the worst of times, it was the best of times.
First, it was frigid, and then raining. The misery index was pretty high. Still all of us sidewalk counselors at the southeast's busiest abortion center Monday spoke on our amplified sound system, and much truth was proclaimed through chattering teeth. (Note, the hunchback look above is due to my winter coat hood under my rain cape...and still I was cold...)
Sadly, there was NO evident fruit from our efforts. Three hours in that damp cold, and not a single mama showed the slightest interest in choosing life for her baby or talking with us.
Finally, just one counselor, Chrissy, and I were left. The nurse who mans our mobile ultrasound RV was still here, though poor Sherry was sick, and had huddled inside the RV much of the morning. Around 1:15 or so, we dejectedly decided it was time to leave. I hadn't eaten since 5 a.m., and Chrissy still had an hour drive home. We lingered, despondent that no one we were aware of had chosen life for their child. In fact, I had just been chatting with Chrissy about how hard it is to be faithful when you see no evident fruit; how it takes enormous faith and trust that God is working when you cannot see it.
Sadly, there was NO evident fruit from our efforts. Three hours in that damp cold, and not a single mama showed the slightest interest in choosing life for her baby or talking with us.
Finally, just one counselor, Chrissy, and I were left. The nurse who mans our mobile ultrasound RV was still here, though poor Sherry was sick, and had huddled inside the RV much of the morning. Around 1:15 or so, we dejectedly decided it was time to leave. I hadn't eaten since 5 a.m., and Chrissy still had an hour drive home. We lingered, despondent that no one we were aware of had chosen life for their child. In fact, I had just been chatting with Chrissy about how hard it is to be faithful when you see no evident fruit; how it takes enormous faith and trust that God is working when you cannot see it.
At that point, a mom and daughter pulled out of the clinic driveway. Looking battle worn, they rolled down their window as I approached their car. They told me they didn't do it, and just wanted to leave as quickly as possible. They looked so weary, but still relieved.
Chrissy and I noted that God must have been listening, and sent us this morsel of evident fruit to warm our frozen bodies.
Chrissy left, and I did too, since we are not ever supposed to remain alone on the sidewalks for our own safety. Providentially, I stopped for lunch at a nearby KFC. (Yes, don't scream at me. It is my ONE junk food indulgence, every Monday after my stint volunteering as a pro-life sidewalk counselor....)
That took some time and then I started driving home, when Sherry the RV nurse called my cell phone. A couple had come on the RV to "explore options" just as Sherry was packing up to leave. She needed a counselor to return to the RV. Gladly, I turned around, retracing my steps back to the abortion center.
As soon as I got on the RV, a woman sitting next to a somber young man said, "I don't want you to make us feel like we are bad people no matter what we decide." Sherry assured her that if they felt bad, it would not be because of us. (HINT, HINT: Maybe you are feeling like bad people because of what you are contemplating doing that is filling your heart with guilt.)
No, we didn't voice that out loud. We both zipped our lips and let God do the convicting on that one.
I recognized them immediately. We had definitely spoken to them from the sidewalk and over our sound system earlier in the day when they had entered the abortion center parking lot.
That took some time and then I started driving home, when Sherry the RV nurse called my cell phone. A couple had come on the RV to "explore options" just as Sherry was packing up to leave. She needed a counselor to return to the RV. Gladly, I turned around, retracing my steps back to the abortion center.
As soon as I got on the RV, a woman sitting next to a somber young man said, "I don't want you to make us feel like we are bad people no matter what we decide." Sherry assured her that if they felt bad, it would not be because of us. (HINT, HINT: Maybe you are feeling like bad people because of what you are contemplating doing that is filling your heart with guilt.)
No, we didn't voice that out loud. We both zipped our lips and let God do the convicting on that one.
I recognized them immediately. We had definitely spoken to them from the sidewalk and over our sound system earlier in the day when they had entered the abortion center parking lot.
As always, first we asked about and listened to all their concerns and obstacles which had led them to the abortion center. In essence, their rationale for considering abortion boiled down to feeling this was not the right time for a baby.
We shared facts and statistics about the perils of abortion, the remorse and regret many women feel, and the devastating impact abortion has on relationships. We told them about all the resources available to help women who chose life for their child. We advised them not to base life and death decisions on feelings or circumstances which will always change. The woman told me that she had to work and didn't want to have to leave her baby.
"It sounds to me like you are feeling a strong maternal concern and love already for the child within you," I pointed out.
Shortly thereafter, the woman, who was very nervous and anxious, sprang to her feet and said she had to go. She had to discuss all we had presented with her boyfriend.
"We're sorry for wasting your time," she said.
"You did not waste our time," Sherry assured her.
They hurried out of the RV, and we were both distraught.
We shared facts and statistics about the perils of abortion, the remorse and regret many women feel, and the devastating impact abortion has on relationships. We told them about all the resources available to help women who chose life for their child. We advised them not to base life and death decisions on feelings or circumstances which will always change. The woman told me that she had to work and didn't want to have to leave her baby.
"It sounds to me like you are feeling a strong maternal concern and love already for the child within you," I pointed out.
Shortly thereafter, the woman, who was very nervous and anxious, sprang to her feet and said she had to go. She had to discuss all we had presented with her boyfriend.
"We're sorry for wasting your time," she said.
"You did not waste our time," Sherry assured her.
They hurried out of the RV, and we were both distraught.
"She's going to abort, " Sherry said. Then sweet Sherry continued to lambast herself, second guessing all we had done and said. I told Sherry that everything we had said had to be said, and she had been wonderful.
"We did everything wrong," she lamented.
"We did everything wrong," she lamented.
We watched in agony as the couple went into the abortion center, after a short time of private discussion in their car.
AND THEN, they came out... within minutes of entering the center. They got in their car.
"Go!" Sherry told me.
I sprang out of the RV, and met them as they drove to the end of the center driveway.
They rolled down their window. The woman looked exhausted, but relieved, Again a huge spiritual battle had clearly been waged.
"Go!" Sherry told me.
I sprang out of the RV, and met them as they drove to the end of the center driveway.
They rolled down their window. The woman looked exhausted, but relieved, Again a huge spiritual battle had clearly been waged.
"You decided not to do it," I said. It is almost always evident when the battle has been won in the baby's favor.
They nodded. I gave them our literature with my name and phone number on it. I again offered all the wonderful help Cities4Life provides for moms that choose life, then gave her a blessing bag filled with gifts for new mamas (which the amazingly foresightful Sherry had grabbed and brought to me.)
They nodded. I gave them our literature with my name and phone number on it. I again offered all the wonderful help Cities4Life provides for moms that choose life, then gave her a blessing bag filled with gifts for new mamas (which the amazingly foresightful Sherry had grabbed and brought to me.)
As they drove away, Sherry and I hugged each other, tearful and exultant.
"We did everything perfectly!" Sherry said.
"We did everything perfectly!" Sherry said.
I love Sherry! We are so passionate about what we do that when it doesn't go as we hope, we blame ourselves. However, in reality, we know that it is God that convicts and changes the hearts. Our words can be all wrong and the woman will choose life, or even all right, and the woman will choose death.
So folks, the lesson for me today is NEVER GIVE UP ON THE POWER OF GOD. Don't second guess yourself either. If the Holy Spirit is compelling you to speak, SPEAK. Let God do the convicting.
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So folks, the lesson for me today is NEVER GIVE UP ON THE POWER OF GOD. Don't second guess yourself either. If the Holy Spirit is compelling you to speak, SPEAK. Let God do the convicting.
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1 Corinthians 2:1-16
And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to
you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to
know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was
with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and
my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration
of the Spirit and of power, that your faith might not rest in the wisdom
of men but in the power of God. ...
Oh Vicky! What a testimony to our God. He moves hearts, He's in control, His timing, He's ever present, and your (both-all) faithfulness. All honor and prasie to God.
ReplyDeleteagreed! Thank you for commenting, and yes, God is SO FAITHFUL!!!!!
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