Forgiveness
What are my emotions when I’m praying on the sidewalk and watching women go into PP or leave with a brown paper bag? Is it anger I feel in my heart and soul? Is it what our Faith and Jesus’ teachings say I should feel? The forgiveness of everyone involved in the abortion- the mother, the father, the abortion workers?
It is so hard to be there and forgive from the heart, as Jesus forgave, even from the Cross.
“Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.” Luke 22:34
But that is what we are asked to do, as difficult as it may be. Over and over again.
“But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Matthew 5:44
I am often guilty of judging those who enter PP, when I have no right to do so. For they, too, are made in the image and likeness of God.
“Let him who is without sin among you be the first to cast a stone at her.” John 8:7
“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven.” Luke 6:37.
As we pray on the sidewalk, let us resist the temptation to judge and do what Jesus asks.
“A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another.” John 13:34
Let us show the women entering PP love, compassion, and forgiveness. It is only through Love that we will win this battle for the Unborn, by changing one heart at a time.
–Chris
Keep reading for today’s shift reports…
Greg, Ethan & Joe W 7:30-9:00
Mostly peaceful day, and slower than usual abortion day with 4 mothers seeking to put their children to death. Ethan, Greg and I showed up to fight for the innocents. Lord have mercy on us!!! -Joe
Joe got there first , as usual and had everything all set up before I arrived. It seemed to me that there was an unusual amount of “worker / volunteer “ traffic heading into Planned Parenthood this morning. I mentioned that to Joe, however, who is always there by 7:30, and he said he didn’t think so. He said ” I think they’re just coming in to work later.” I don’t know what that might mean, but maybe it’s something to monitor. We had one couple go in – a young girl who was being escorted by her “boyfriend”. She looked a little reluctant, and looked back at me and said, “I’m sorry,” but the boyfriend was determined to take her inside. It wasn’t visible coercion, but it was obvious, he was the one who wanted the abortion. Other than that, it was fairly quiet. Hutch, the guard, showed up some time after 8:00. -Greg
Kathy & Barbara 9:00-11:00
Barbara, Kim, Marie, Kathy, Randy
Leroy Laura, Kim, Barbara; briefly stopping by to pray were Brendan, Bill, Leroy and Laura
Few clients entered pp today. One accepted resource brochure. A woman named Nicole said she supported us and then said she needed a medical abortion in February. Not sure if she understood what we were Advocating. I offered a prayer for her before she left.
A man stopped by asking for a gift card for something to eat. When I said I didn’t have any and suggested he go to the Red Door, he said he wasn’t from here and didn’t like soup kitchen food. He quickly became angry when he wasn’t receiving his demands and started cursing at me. I signaled for security guard Hutch to intervene and man walked away but returned minutes later holding a sign presumably asking for food. Hutch offered him crackers and a granola bar but he refused. No further confrontation with him occurred during remaining shift.
An older woman using a cane stopped to ask if I’ve adopted any children. She said that she did and when the adopted girl was 16, she became pregnant. When the girl asked her mom what she should do about the pregnancy, the woman told her that it’s her decision. The girl chose life and the child is now 17 years old and much loved by the grandmother. I tried to ask how she would have felt if the girl aborted, but the woman was very talkative and the best I could do was listen to her. She thanked me for listening and said the issue is very complicated and that she was glad we were doing something about the issue. -Kathy
Elsie 11:00-1:00
Group from Divine Grace Parish, with Jane on right
We were blessed to have a lovely group from Divine Grace Parish, earnestly offering Rosaries for the babies & moms & dads. Sadly, prayers are desperately needed, as the death mill was ushering in many, many victims today.
My neighbor Jane and I offered pro-life lit & held signs, hoping to reach minds & hearts with the plight of the unborn child. There were two especially poignant interactions with passersby. A post-abortive mom, visibly distraught, told of having been forced by a violently abusive boyfriend/husband to abort their baby. A man thanked (indeed blessed) the Rosary group for being there. He told us he was grieving horribly for his own THREE (his emphasis) unborn babies who had been killed by their mother, now herself deceased. We gave him contact info for fathers impacted by abortion.
He asked us where we went to church & indicated a desire to attend. We recommended St. Mary’s & Epiphany as being nearby, and his face lit up! He told us how highly he respects & appreciates Father Chris & another priest at the Downtown parish, Divine Mercy.
Bernadette and her neighbor Beth arrived for the next shift, so we knew the babies would have loving advocates after we left. -Elsie
Bernadette 1:00-3:00
Pat, Val & Mike 3:00-5:00
