The Last Drop…
What does it mean to really sacrifice something for someone that you love? Sometimes it is easy to “sacrifice” a few hours of our time for a good cause, or throw a few dollars from our excess into a ministry. But is that really a sacrifice? Isn’t a true “sacrifice” supposed to hurt?
As we enter in to the final days of our Lenten 40 Days for Life, I want to share with you a note that I recently received from one of our new sidewalk volunteers (who wishes to remain nameless). Here is what she wrote:
Hi Nikki, I am new at sidewalk counseling. Every week, the night before I have to go there, I pray most sincerely for the grace not to cancel, because I know that in the morning I am going to feel the same… scared, nervous, and excited.
Scared and nervous for obvious reasons, but excited because I know I cannot just sit back and do nothing, when I have the opportunity to help in some way to hopefully change someone’s mind about abortion.
The painful thing is… the girls going in and the girls coming out are not changing their minds. But I also know that if I can help a passerby see the reality of abortion, then they may be able to reach someone I will never reach, and help that person change her mind. So, I feel excited that I can be a part of that person’s change of heart and mind. And so, I pray that I do not say the wrong thing. Because most often I feel I have done a very inadequate job. However, I finally realized that God’s grace can work in whatever I say, if my heart is in the right place.
This woman’s note helped me to realize how pleased God must be when someone like this new volunteer offers what is very difficult for her to do. She is like the poor widow who put in her little coin into the treasury. Jesus said that she gave more than the others, who gave out of their abundance. I believe He will use this little offering to do big things!
Thanks to everyone who gave of their time, treasure and talent to make these 40 Days for Life a success.
May God bless you all for your efforts!
-Nikki
SIDEWALK REPORTS
7:30-9 AM +++ Cathy, Peggy, and Mary
CATHY: Two-three women went inside this am, not accepting any help. A couple went in, were at the desk and then came out. Did not want to talk.
A woman came by, looked at the sign in the window with the amount of money raised and made her donation to it. When I said it would be used to kill babies she said it would be used to help women. Mary showed her the green flyer and she said it was all lies since did not offer abortion. Mary said as the woman walked away that PP doesn’t offer maternity care.
There were a lot of college students going by with rolled up papers. They were going to a college research conference to present their research. Hopefully they learned some lifesaving thoughts as they walked by us.
9-11 AM +++ Conrad and Elsie
ELSIE: Peg & I served as shift “anchors” from 9-11AM & were joined by a good-sized group of prayer-warriors from Saint Thomas the Apostle (affectionately known as “the Kennywood Parish”). Amongst them were regular sidewalk stalwarts Larry and Jeff. Jeff remarked that for years and years he could recruit nary a soul from his church to join him on the sidewalk, BUT NOW their parish’s dynamic deacon successfully motivates a beautiful contingent to stand in prayer for the mammas and babies. Jeff emphasized this, pointing out to me that it is evidence that things CAN get better!!
The dynamic deacon was present and earnestly praying the Rosary and other lovely prayers with his parishioners. Later on, a group from Saint Bernard of Clairvaux in Indiana, PA filled the sidewalk and sent up more heartfelt petitions.
Sadly, the prayers were all too desperately needed, as it was painfully clear that mass slaughter was being committed inside. One of the very few hopeful signs during our shift was a lady who passed by, accepted lit, & then shared with me that [sidewalk counselor] Kathy and [Birthright directress] Nina had given her lots of help & hope when she was pregnant and very scared. She asked if I knew when Kathy would next be on the sidewalk, because she wants to show Kathy a picture of her precious baby girl. This sweet mother then got out her phone & showed ME the photo, of her darling and very advanced-looking five month-old daughter! I asked her how they are both doing, and she smiled and replied that they are very well!
Good news like that is why we need counselors and prayer-warriors on that evil sidewalk THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE YEAR!!!! Please, if you are not already a year-round sidewalk witness, consider emailing Jen to put you on the schedule AFTER 40Days ends. That’s when the babies and their moms need you THE MOST DESPERATELY!!
11 AM-1 PM +++ Larry and Ed
1-3 PM +++ Judy, Chris, and Kevin
CHRIS: Beautiful, but chilly, weather during our last shift of the campaign. I was joined in prayer by Kevin and John from Regina Coeli Parish, Judy, Chalice (what an appropriate name!), and Paulette from St. John the Worker, and Beth Ann from St. Aidan Parish. Judy continually offered potentially life-saving brochures to women about to enter PP. A holy moment happened when two mothers, both with infants in carriers on their chests, their three young children, and one husband, stopped to pray part of a Rosary with us. I handed three of the rubber fetal models to the mothers and they gave them to the children with smiles on their faces.
3-5 PM +++ Steve and Eileen
STEVE: Not much traffic into PP today. Eileen did approach one girl who was lingering in front after coming out, but he said he was “transgender”… another diabolical ” business” for the biggest killer of babies in the country! Got alot of “props” for the banner of our lady- a man heading to the train station recognized her from seeing her when he was in Mexico in “almost every church he prayed in”! I asked him to keep praying for the moms who go through the PP doors! A couple of whispered “thank you’s” and mostly positive reactions- exceptions being two MEN- one told us to “get a life” and another claimed he had paid for ten abortions! Forgot the picture this week… would have been the usual- Our Lady, Eileen and I.