One Woman Left, One Woman Came Back

As I arrived at the abortion facility on Friday to pray, I was told that we 'had a save' just before I arrived. She didn't want to speak to anyone, just wanted to get out of there. So, that's what the Sidewalk Counselors let her do. They did not speak to her other than to ask her if she had changed her mind and she nodded.

Then, a little whle later, the same girl came back in a different car and accompanied by what we thought had to be her mother. But, when we tried talking to the older woman, she said she had no children. So, we don't know who she was or what kind of influence she had over this girl, but it seemed to be working. Unfortunatel, I had left by the time the girl came out of the facility, so I don't know if she went through with the abortion or if she left again with her baby still in her womb.

But, I was finally able actually get someone to stop and speak to me. I was standing with another counselor when she left her vehicle. He spoke to her and she paused, turned around and walked toward us and received a brochure. We informed her of the increased risk of breast cancer as well as the increased risk of infertility in the future. That's all she heard us say. We never really know if what we have said reaches these women or not until they come out of the facility.

This time, we had a pretty good idea what happened in a fairly short amount of time. She came out of the front door and walked quickly to her car. The gentleman I was standing with had walked towards the front of the parking lot and spoke to her very briefly. He was able to get from her that she had changed her mind. He immediately called me over to him and asked me to approach her vehicle to see if there was anything we could do to help her. So, I did just that. I had done that with others, but they just sped off. Not this time. She actually rolled down her window and spoke to me through sobs. We were both crying. I let her know that I had been praying for her from the moment she stepped from her car until she came back out. I asked if there was anything I could do to help her (including walking her to a pregnancy center down the street). She said that she didn't want to go there. She just needed to leave so she could sort some things out. I was able to get her name and told her we would be praying for her.

She may come back. We don't know. But, for now, she turned around, child still in her womb. And, that, is a success. And, should she choose to follow through with the abortion, I believe she knows we are not there to judge her but to offer her support in healing. Those initial words spoken to a woman can set the foundation to open communication and a trusting relationship so that even if we do not reach them and help them to choose life for their children, we do reach them in letting them know that someone genuinely cares for them and wants to help them heal.

God is certainly good. I very much needed that encouragement after this election.