“Do you know the verse where Jesus asks, ‘Why do you call me Lord, Lord, and not do what I say?’” I asked.
The couple looked at each other. The woman shook her head.
“In other verses Jesus says, “Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' (Matthew 7:21-23).”
I told the couple these were not my words, but the words of Jesus.
“You know there is medication to help with severe nausea. Hyperemesis Gravidarum is a diagnosed condition and you can apply for temporary disability. You can get at least some income from your insurance if you are unable to work. And we can help with other issues with the new baby that are expensive. We will give you a baby shower that provides the first full two years of everything that baby needs so you don’t need to buy a thing. Except diapers. We only provide the first couple of months of those.”
Our eager new volunteer Megan, who had first stopped the car, now blurted, “The first two full years of diapers!! I will be sure you get the first full two years of diapers!” (Yes, folks, that is the caliber of our Cities4Life volunteers.)
I asked them if they, who knew God’s clear commands about protecting the voiceless and vulnerable and innocent human life, really wanted to abort over a transient, albeit difficult, condition?
At that point, they told me they would talk it over and decide. They drove slowly towards the abortion center. I watched them praying, “Keep going, keep going...” I know our entire Cities4life team was praying.
They slowed down at the entrance to the parking lot...and drove past. We cheered. And then they turned around, back towards the clinic. Oh no. To my surprise, they headed back towards me, parked in front of the RV, and rolled down the window. (The Monroe HELP Pregnancy Center RV houses our mobile ultrasound unit.)
“You will let us show you your baby?” I asked.
She nodded with a weak smile. When she got out of the car, I asked if I could hug her. She nodded again. “You really look like you need a hug,” I said. She agreed.
We heaped all kinds of resources and help on them. The poor woman threw up in the wastebasket a few times, but by the end of her time with us, she was smiling. She was hopeful despite how awful she felt.
I can’t imagine the sorrow and remorse that woman would have felt if she had aborted the baby because of the nausea. No reason to abort ever justifies the taking of innocent human life, but to kill a child because of a temporary passing period of feeling ill...that is a particularly terrible reason.
What if we hadn’t been there?
I had gone walking with a friend a few days before who gave me a stunning baby blanket. I gave that to the woman. Another friend had given me a bag of children’s toy. I gave that to this woman for her other children. The network of Cities4Life supporters are changing the lives of countless desperate families.
I told her I knew exactly what she was going through. My last pregnancy had been morning to night extreme nausea the full 9 months. It was indeed wretched. The only thing I could eat, strangely enough, were BurgerKing Chicken Broilers. I sometimes ate three a day. But all that terrible awful illness was forgotten when I gazed into my baby’s eyes. I did not regret what I had endured because the prize was so priceless.
God tells us that in this world we will have troubles. We will endure some terrible things on the road to eternity. But if we remain faithful to Jesus, and run as one who intends to finish the race and win, we will be richly rewarded.
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1 Corinthians 9:24-27 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
2 Timothy 4:7-8
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.
Praise God!
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