It was a hot day, spits of rain making our volunteers scurry for umbrellas. Thus far, we’d had few interactions with the women intent on abortion. That is not to say we were discouraged. Most of us have been out there for years and know that God has the victory when we show up.
We were there.
Sweaty, bedraggled by rain, but there.
Every woman who entered the abortion center heard our gentle pleas to trust God, not changeable circumstances or feelings. Every woman had heard the truth of her baby’s development, and God’s beautiful design, plan, and love for each precious one now in imminent danger. Every woman had been offered help and resources. We knew we had done all we could do and now it was up to that woman and God to alter the day’s outcome.
A van pulled over for one of our counselors. There were several smiling children in the car. The mother of the happy brood rolled down her window and shared an amazing story. Eight years ago, she had come down this road with a very different agenda. She had been headed to the abortion clinic to kill her baby. She didn’t want to do it. Every fiber of her being as a woman and a believer in God screamed against what she was there to do.
But she tearfully admitted to the Cities4Life counselor she stopped to talk with eight years ago that she had no choice but to kill her baby. She had several other children. She alleged that she had just been to Youth and Family Services for help. She claimed they told her that unless she aborted her baby, they would seize custody of her children from her.
The Cities4Life counselor assured her they could not do that. She offered bountiful resources and help. Gratefully, Patricia chose life. Now, she pulled over with her happy van of children to thank us and to encourage us not to stop doing what we are doing.
“You helped me so much,” she said. In fact, she had been driving on Latrobe Drive to show her children the place of death...what she had almost succumbed to. She told them about these people who rescued her, these people standing in the rain on the sidewalk in front of the abortion center. She introduced the eight-year-old boy who is alive today because Cities4Life volunteers were there on the sidewalk that terrible day.
“And now, I want to bring these children and volunteer with you,” she said. “I want to tell the women not to believe the lies and that they should not destroy their blessing!”
I gave her our volunteer information after asking if I could take her picture and share her story. She said she would very much like me to do so. She was very angry with Youth and Family Services and asked if I would share what they had done to her as well.
She drove away. About half an hour later, she reappeared with a man in the passenger’s seat. She introduced him, the 8-year-old’s father. His eyes were bright with a sheen of tears as he clutched my hand smiling broadly, and said, “Thank you, all of you. Thank you for saving my baby.”
“I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.”
Luke 11:8 NIV
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