Often all the good done due to the generous and amazing work by silent prayer warriors and compassionate sidewalk counselors outside abortion businesses is not immediately known. One writer admitted that it is possible that “discouragement comes swiftly and heavily. Often I wonder why I should and do continue.” Anyone who has stood and prayed outside an abortion business can echo these feelings; but the unseen effects of these prayers, of this witness, are far beyond what can be imagined.
Some years ago a group of us were praying outside the last abortion business (of four) in Corpus Christi, Texas, when a car drove up and screeched to a sudden stop right by us. When this happens one usually expects the worst. But this time a man got out and approached us, weeping. “You have no idea of the good you do here,” he said to us. “Thirteen years ago my pregnant girlfriend and I drove up here and you all were praying here. This was for her scheduled abortion. We went inside and we felt the evil. I thought about you all on the outside praying. We left. And now, because of you, she is my wife and, because of you, we have beautiful twin teenage daughters. Never stop this, keep praying here.”
That once lucrative evil business is now shut down. Hundreds of lives were saved there, including babies and mothers; and many fathers and grandparents today enjoy the smiles, hugs, and “I love you” of children and grandchildren.
All of us who were there that day 25 years ago sometimes felt the “discouragement that comes swiftly and heavily.” But our prayers touched this man and his girlfriend and changed the course of human history. This is why those who stand and pray “should and do continue.”
Another time we prayed most of the day outside a Planned Parenthood abortion business in Bryan/College-Station, Texas, as 17 girls and women went in for abortions, with no “saves.” Once the “business” day was over late in the afternoon, we went to a local restaurant, depressed and gloomy. While we were there, a woman came up to us and asked if we were “the people praying at the Planned Parenthood.” We told her we were, and she said, “Thank you, I saw you praying and because of you I did not go in for the abortion.” This is reason enough to continue, because even if we do not know about it, a baby might be saved because of our prayers.
That Planned Parenthood franchise location is now shut down.
I firmly believe that when anyone who stands and prays outside an abortion business, anyone who engages in sidewalk counseling, anyone who is a conduit for God’s love to these girls and women, and sometimes fathers, gets to the pearly gates and St. Peter is studying the book and checking the commandments against what the person has done, there is going to be a crowd of little children telling St. Peter, perhaps impatiently, “This is our friend. She [or he] is why you call your book the ‘Book of Life.’ You have to let her come in here and play with us.”
[republished; originally at Catholic Stand, 2022]
I am always comforted by remembering the Jewish maxim; “If you save one life, you have saved the world.”
Wow. What a story (the Corpus Christi TX account).
Our efforts in front of Traverse City PP resulted in one known save.
I’ve given the account here on TAC a couple of times just to encourage others to not give up on the war. To man their stations, rosaries in hand and heart.
The woman stopped by and shared her story on the witness she saw. Cold and rainy day, she pulled into the parking lot. Never leaving the car she pondered as to why these strangers cared to spend their time in such miserable weather, praying. Her plan was to set up her appointment for her abortion in Grand Rapids and get the process started in Traverse City.
She couldn’t get out of her car.
She said to members of our team that she attributes her son’s life to those soaked individuals praying for her baby. You will never fail. Never.
Keeping the pressure on in Northern Michigan. We won’t stop until the death camps close. Until all have freedom to Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Especially the babies.
Amen!