A Culture of Life, and Shout out to the Brave Women and Men in Blue

I met an amazing policeman yesterday. He accompanied me with one of the moms I work with who chose life over abortion to retrieve needed items from the mom's home. Due to heart-breaking reasons, the mom did not feel she could return safely to the home alone. I was going to go with her alone to help, but my nephew-in-law, a K-9 cop, called me and told me in no uncertain terms do not enter that home without police escort. The very incredible officer who escorted the mom and me was one of the kindest human beings I have ever met and smoothed a treacherous path.

The policeman was calm, respectful, and handled a potentially explosive situation with gentle but firm competence when approaching the people involved. It started off very ugly, and I was so grateful my nephew and sisters had warned me to call the police.

I honestly don't know how the officer did it, but he persuaded the people to be reasonable while I kept the very emotional mom calm as we stood outside the home. The officer came away from the situation with everything the mom needed, and then followed us to a safe house where the mom is staying to "debrief us." He spoke about the importance of family and restoration of relationship, and that he had seen situations worse than this that had been healed. (He also affirmed it was VERY wise to have asked for police escort in this situation and I was always to do so in the future.) These were words of enormous assurance to the young, struggling mom, who hugged him when he left.

The amazing officer with background painted out for privacy reasons

"I cannot believe it," she told me tearfully, "This has been ALL God, through and through."

This mom who had fled with nothing but her baby from the home had been terribly distraught, and completely unsure of how to proceed. She was overwhelmed, and called me. I contacted a crisis counselor, and then our Cities4Life network of donors and supporters. Within a day, supporters gave her emergency baby supplies, a pre-loaded Visa card, resources and support in Crisis Assistance, money for medication, and even a car.

Monday, she will connect with Crisis centers trained to deal in this situation, but it was Cities4Life volunteers and network, including emergency baby supplies from Truth and Mercy Prolife Ministry who enabled her to leave in the immediate critical aftermath of the situation.

"How do you feel?" I asked her as all the pieces were slowly coming together yesterday.
"I feel hope."

In the course of our long day together yesterday, she told me a story I had not heard before. She told me why she chose life over abortion. I was on the microphone that day, and called to her specifically: "Young lady, young lady. Do you know that your baby's heart is already beating? Let us show you your baby's heart." She said I was so persistent (our director calls it a "nag anointing") about that point that she couldn't close her ears to it.

That was it. While we are all clear about presenting a strong Gospel message on the sidewalks of the abortion center, I didn't need fancy words, deep thoughts, or a mouthful of memorized Bible verses and references. If I did, all would be lost. All that mom needed to hear at that moment was that her baby's heart was beating, something the abortion center will go to tremendous lengths to avoid disclosing.

"That was when I realized my baby was not just a clump of cells and decided right then I would not abort." Even now, over a year from that day, as she told me this story, tears poured over her cheeks.

I got to hold that baby for the first time yesterday. For privacy reasons, I will not post the photo, but I have it. (The photo in the blog is of a different baby saved from abortion.) I cherish all the photos of the babies I have the privilege of meeting who were saved from abortion. They remind me of how grateful I am that God uses such ordinary people for such extraordinary tasks.

And extraordinary people too, like the police officer who soothed a family in crisis. Say thank you to our brave police force today.

***********
If you want to be one of those ordinary people on an extraordinary mission, click HERE to see how you can help. One thing you can do is contact city council and tell them NOT to approve a proposed no parking ordinance on the street where we minister and park in front of the abortion center where I met this mom. Had our RV not been parked there, or we counselors not been there, who would this mom have called to help her in this crisis situation?
************

2 Corinthians 12:9

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Psalm 34:17-20 

When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken