Tuesday, November 3, 2020

Double Save!

 Dana* and her daughter Vikki* came to Southwestern abortion facility because they didn’t know what else to do. It’s just the two of them. Dana didn’t want her daughter to have an abortion, but she didn’t want her to be alone. As they pulled into the office parking lot, they saw one of the protesters with a large sign showing an aborted baby.

“That did it,” Dana said. “When Vikki saw that guy, she got really angry and said that no one was going to tell her what to do.” Before that, she might have been able to talk her daughter out of the abortion, but not now. The wait was going to be fairly long, so Dana stepped out to smoke a cigarette. She walked around the parking lot, in the opposite direction from the protester. She saw a woman standing at the north entrance who called out to her, asking how she was doing. 

Dana went over to the sidewalk counselor, and they began to talk. The counselor handed Dana information from the pregnancy help center and explained that the services were free. Dana couldn’t believe it. “We thought we didn’t have any choice. But if these people will help us…” She left to get her daughter out of the abortion facility.

About forty minutes later, the counselor was surprised to see Dana walking towards her again. 

“Do you have any more of that information?” 

“Of course. Is everything okay?” 

“Yeah, Vikki is fine, but there’s a woman in the parking lot sitting in her car crying because she doesn’t know what to do. I told her I’d bring her information about all your help.”

Before Dana left, the counselor told her, “You know there was a reason you didn’t go to your car to smoke this morning. God helped you save two babies, your grandchild and a stranger’s baby.” Dana surely walked away feeling doubly blessed.

*Names changed to protect privacy.
For more information about sidewalk counseling in Dallas, visit www.prolifedallas.org/sidewalk.

Tuesday, October 13, 2020

Here Out of Love


I had a wonderful email in my inbox this morning.  A friend has adopted an hour a week to come to pray at this year’s prayer vigil at South Dallas Planned Parenthood.  She and her husband went last week, but yesterday she decided to post an invitation on social media a couple of hours before she went, asking other prayer volunteers to join her.

And oh boy did they!  A family of six (three little girls and a boy), two young adults (one with his guitar), her husband’s best friend (with his guitar), then two other friends, and one more friend with her two-year-old little girl! 11 MORE!

While they were all praying, a woman, Luz (not her real name) walked by.  She was crying, saying that she felt helpless and wanted to have an abortion.  The relationship with her boyfriend isn’t a good one, and she’s afraid her mom will kick her out if she finds out about her pregnancy.

One volunteer invited her to stay and pray with them.  The two-year-old came up as they were talking, said to Luz, “Hi!” and toddled off, smiling and waving.  "All of us are here for you.  These people were not planning on being here, but it’s no coincidence," a volunteer shared. "God knew you were coming, and this baby saying hi to you is another sign.  We are here out of love for you for this very moment.” Luz began to weep. 

Giving her information about the pregnancy resource center, a vigil volunteer also got Luz’ number and told her she would ask a counselor to call her and see about getting her help.  The counselor and Luz have connected and we’re praying for all involved. 

Luz had just been walking by yesterday.  Prayer and witness is a beautiful thing.