Reaching Out…
Mary set out and journeyed in haste into the hill country. . . . Mary remained with Elizabeth for about three months. —Lk 1:39, 56
After Mary was told she would be the mother of God, the truth of her new status did not distract her from Elizabeth’s needs. Real encounters with God do not turn us into ourselves, but rather make us more responsive to the needs of others.
Religion does not keep us within the walls of our churches; rather, we go out to serve the needs of those whose lives and rights are in danger.
Lord, may we learn from what Mary did. Send us to help mothers and children in need.
Andrew, (Taken from the book Pro-Life Reflections for Every Day)
Tracy & Bill
(From Tracy) – We four amigos started out together this morning and were later joined by a lovely family from St. Pete’s in Steubenville, OH. Business today was a little slower. We saw a few couples and a small number of single clients. No one took info, but nobody was rude, so that was nice!
Beth & Linda
(From Beth) Rain finally came at the end of a shift in a city that definitely needs cleansing . The truck came to get the medical waste from PP and long ago, we were assured it was just waste material. Doesn’t matter, PP needs to go away and stay away. We can offer caring, free, expert help to anyone on need, from diapers to daycare, as the saying goes. Some women, some Trans clients, and lots of police trying to help a homeless person. God bless the police.
Sheila
I always pray that the rain keeps women away from the death trap, but they were not deterred today. Sadly, a very young couple, definitely in their teens, kept their appointment. They stopped for a few minutes and listened to all the other options that were available to them, but insisted that they were only there to “have a conversation” with a counselor. Let’s pray that they decided to choose life after all.
An hispanic couple with two very young children, one in a stroller, were in a hurry to enter the clinic when I started communicating with them in Spanish. The woman ran in to avoid hearing my pleas to not abort their child. The husband took a Spanish brochure and was insisting in a very nonconvincing way that they were not there for an abortion. What a shame those children had to be exposed to such an evil environment AND lose their little hermana or hermano.
Sandy, Kim & Mike
(From Sandy) Fortunately, the rain had stopped by the time our shift started today, but there was definitely a brisk, chilly wind that reminded us that summer is over. Anytime it’s windy, I see it as a reminder that the power of the Holy Spirit is with us and invite Him to rule. Having Mike & Kim there praying continuously is certainly part of that manifestation. It reminds me of Jesus’ words in today’s Gospel about our need to be vigilant. Overall, it was a much quieter day than last week, There were a few hostile comments, a few gentle hand “brush aways”, but also some positive comments. 2 times when someone initially said no thanks, but I continued to walk and gently talk, they accepted the literature with a “thank you” instead of telling me to stop following them The very young couple we were told about from the previous shift did not have the small brown bag and said they did have the literature even though they took another from me. I encouraged them to read it and showed them the little 10-11 week model I usually carry in my hand. Probably the highlight of my shift today was when my oldest son (whom we adopted at 7 months) Nathan ( Meaning “gift of God”) showed up to give me a hug. Just recently his 3 teen daughters told me how they debated with another teen in their neighborhood about the preciousness of life and the evil of abortion. God is at work to help others come to realize that each life is a gift of God. We are grateful to be his instruments.
Bill & Virginia
Aside from the employee exit between 3:30-4, there was only 1 “brown bag” customer that left PP during our shift. The foot traffic was busy, including the school students, several of who are still in the area 30 minutes later. There was a guy walking by that spit on the fetal picture that was wrapped around the tree, he was gone down the alley quickly. Bill wiped the saliva off the poster. No other incidents, thank God.
Virginia and Bill, I’m so sorry we could not be with you today. I prayed for both of you.