A Reminiscence
It has been over four and a half years since my first happy occasion to visit the pregnancy resource center nearest to the killing center at which I started a sidewalk counseling ministry. With the upcoming date of an annual fundraiser dinner for the PRC approaching and the fourth day after the dinner being Gabriela's fourth birthday, I thought it would be good to share this reminiscence of the ministry's first child and mother saved.
On February 19, 2003, during our second presence at Planned Parenthood’s killing center in San Rafael (CA), Gabriela's mother chose birth for her. The mother, a young Spanish-speaking woman, had felt helpless before she encountered us on the sidewalk attempting to speak to her and to offer help. It was difficult to communicate with her, but because of our Christ-like demeanor she was able to see that we were there with love and that we desired to help her.
She had prayed that someone would help her because she truly wanted to have her baby, but before her encounter with us she did not know to whom she could turn for help. So going on the "advice" of the child’s father who had abandoned her and their child, she had made an appointment to terminate the life of her child that day. On her way to the killing center she turned her prayer for help into a prayer for forgiveness for what she was about to do - which she believed was a necessary evil. Through the grace of God she found out before it was too late that it was not necessary after all, and God snatched her and her child away from "Planned Victimization" - from those who had told her that her unborn child was a blob of tissue.
It wasn’t long before she cheerfully and confidently found herself being escorted to the PRC. I wish you could have seen the joy on this young mother’s face or could have heard the joy in her voice as she related to us that she truly wanted to have her baby and how grateful she was for all the help being offered to her in answer to her prayers. As I drove her home that afternoon, I told her she would sleep like a baby that night - without pressure and fear - unlike what the previous night must have been for her. With a sweet smile and peace-filled heart, she concurred.
Earlier that same day a nasty woman told us that we were doing a disservice to the women who came there. She didn't get to ask Gabriela's mother what she thought. She was speaking out of ignorance. If anyone tells you that sidewalk counselors do a disservice to women, share the fact that you know otherwise. Share the fact that not every mother or father who carries his or her cross to Calvary truly wants to be there. That some of them are grateful that we went along with them. And that the babies who are killed while we are there are grateful that we - like Mary and John who remained with Jesus at the foot of the Cross during his time of death - remained with them during their time of death.
Also on that same day I received the following note from another pregnancy resource center:
“ … Certainly, use us in your handouts. I have no problem with that. In fact, just within the past hour we had a client come in for baby clothes. She had an abortion scheduled at Planned Parenthood (I believe) and she said that she couldn't go in because someone talked to her on the outside and gave her a brochure to read. The brochure included our Pregnancy Center address so I'm assuming that she encountered your group. Anyway, she decided not to have an abortion; and it turns out that she's having TWINS! According to her, she was going to take the life of what she thought was one baby and (in her words), "Instead God blessed me with two babies." She lives with her grandmother but other than that she is alone in this pregnancy. We invited her back for any help we can give her. THANK THE LORD!”…
For someone not to be at these killing centers is not only a disservice to the babies and their parents, but also a disservice to God. For me it is a sin of omission - may God forgive me for all that I’ve failed to do.
Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me... Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me. (Mt 25:40,45)
Precious Gabriela
Scheduled to die Feb 19, 2003 ~ born Oct 10, 2003
Thanks be to God, Creator of us all
Happy Fourth Birthday Gabriela!
Fredi
