Yesterday, two stories from the sidewalks of the abortion center made me fall to my knees in praise. At my age, I might not get back up so it was a figurative falling to my knees.
One of the “pro-choice” people came to me and introduced himself and told me that he really appreciated what I had to say over the microphone. He told me it was very gentle and loving and not at all condemning and well thought out. I thanked him and told him I felt he was on the wrong side of this issue and I asked him if he knew Jesus.
He did not want to get into that. At that moment, one of our volunteers, Jessica, stepped forward with her seven-year-old daughter and she asked if she could spend a few minutes sharing her testimony with this man. She introduced her daughter and told him that this is a child that was scheduled to die at a place just like this one where we stood. The 19-year-old mother instead of abortion, bravely chose life! The little girl who was to be aborted is now a happy and beloved seven-year-old in her grateful adoptive family.
“Can you look her in the eyes and tell her that you wish she had died instead??” Jessica asked him.
He didn’t answer.
Then she went on to say that death is what happens to millions of babies every year that are being ushered in to that facility by the “pro-choice” advocates. Those babies don’t have the opportunity to grow up and be an incredible blessing and joy to a family the way her daughter is.
Jessica had finished speaking and the man did not have a word to say. In fact, he looked like he was about to cry. I know I was.
I then turned to him and said, “By preventing women from talking to us, you make it harder for them to make the choice not to abort their child and contribute to the likelihood that children like this beautiful little girl will not ever enter this world.”
He tucked his sign under his arm and immediately walked to his car. He put the sign in the car and drove away. My prayer is that he means never to return unless it is to urge women to choose life.
After everybody on our wonderful team had left except for the director of Cities4Life , Daniel Parks, and me, Daniel preached a powerful sermon over the microphone. I stood in the rain listening and waiting, praying for the lost souls in that terrible place, so deceived to believe that killing their child would solve anything.
Shortly thereafter, two women left the abortion center. The first one pulled over and told me she had aborted. She was sorrowful. She took my post-abortion literature and told me that, yes, she would appreciate prayer. The security man made her drive on, telling her she could not block the driveway. I urged her to call me if she ever needed to talk.
The second woman walked out of the clinic and came right towards us, clearly weary and beaten-down.
“Did you change your mind?” I asked her.
“Yes, but I don’t know what I’m going to do. I don’t see any way I can have this baby.”
“I promise you, we can help you. Whatever situation you face. Let me ask you, do you believe in God?”
“Yes, but I don’t want to talk about it.”
“What would God have you do?”
“He wouldn’t want me to kill it. I’m just so tired and I have to find a ride home.“
“I will drive you home.“
The good news was I had a good long drive to get her home... almost a half hour. During that time even though she said she did not want to talk, she did listen. I shared the truth of the humanity of her baby, and the development of her baby, and all the resources that we could offer to help her. Then I shared the gospel. Afterwards, she told me that she did believe that Jesus is Lord and rose from the dead and that she wanted him to be Lord of her life. I applauded her for giving her life to God, but reminded her that if Jesus is Lord, and she meant what she said, then her behavior would change in submission to Him.
She said she understood that. “I promise you. I will never do something to disobey God.”
Then I said, “Thou shalt not murder.”
She looked at me, knowing what I was saying. “I’m confused about what I should do.”
“I think you do know what you should do. You do know right from wrong. God will help you and so will we. Will you let us help you?”
I held my breath waiting for her answer.
Looking straight ahead, she nodded.
Fortunately I always keep a supply of gifts in my car for mothers who choose life. When we reached her home and got out of the car, I gave her an armload of gifts. Next, I pulled out a Bible from one of my crates.
“Would you like this?“
“Yes,“ she said, taking the Bible with reverence.
I found a black and white bracelet in the bottom of my gift bags and told her, “This you definitely need to take. It is black-and-white. You can clearly see which is which. That is true of our choices between right and wrong. They are clear. I know you know what is right and I know you know what is wrong. Wear this bracelet to remind you.”
As I drove away I felt overwhelming gratitude and joy. How gracious of God to grant me, a humble pastor, gentle Christian volunteers, a grateful adoptive mom, and a vivacious charming little girl this blessing of helping others to see Him.
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Micah 6:8
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
Love, love, love this! Thank you Vicky, Jessica, Blessy, Daniel, and all the other sidewalk saints! Sheryl Chandler
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