Bearing Fruit
When a 40 Days for Life campaign is nearing its close, it may be tempting to think “Where is the fruit of our labor, our sacrifices, our prayers on the sidewalk? Why haven’t there been more ‘saves’?” I believe that our efforts to save the pre-born do bear fruit, although we may not know it. During this worldwide campaign there have been reports of women who, many years after their scheduled abortion, tell pray-ers about their decision for Life at that time and the beautiful child they now have. And they thank the pray-ers that were there at that time, those that helped them change their mind.
Your prayerful presence does make a difference, even if you don’t know it at the time. Seeds we plant in hearts, by our prayers and sidewalk counseling, do bear fruit!
The prayers, the signs, the pregnancy care center resource cards and brochures, the fetal models- all are seeds that we plant without, most times, seeing their effect.
Some of these seeds will fall on fertile ground, be they the woman, the man, relatives, or friends. They can help save a little life in a womb.
The campaign will soon be over, but PP’s destruction of innocent lives will continue. I ask you to consider praying on the sidewalk with us year-round with 40 Days for Life/365. Just send Jen an email at pghsaland365@gmail.com and let her know when you’re available. Your ongoing witness is important, whether it be for ½ an hour, an hour each week, or more.
We are His hands and feet, here to do His work on earth.
“A farmer went out to sow his seed. And as he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, where it was trampled, and the birds of the air devoured it. Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the seedlings withered because they had no moisture. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the seedlings. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it sprang up and produced a crop- a hundredfold. As Jesus said this, He called out, “He who has ears ought to hear, let him hear.”
Luke 8:5-8
-Chris
SIDEWALK REPORTS
7:30-9 AM +++ Joe, Ethan, and Greg
JOE: After all these yrs, I’m still amazed by the high character of the people that serve at 40days campaigns, Ethan, Greg and Randy (pictured) surely exemplify this.
I look forward to the day our merciful Jesus ends the atrocity of abortion, and we celebrate together…. until then we fight.
Peace to all.
9-11 AM +++ Kathy and Kim
KATHY: Just Kim, sign wearing Randy, and me the first hour. Phil came later to pray. One young couple who looked like they were late teen aged went hurriedly inside pp. Within five minutes they exited with the male accepting green brochure. They did not return during my shift.
Another young woman going in for bc accepted green brochure and said she did not support abortion. Asked what she would do if she became pregnant while on bc, adoption was her answer.
Passed out other brochures to passersby. A few negative comments but mostly civil reactions.
Kim and I offered prayers using psalms 51, 136, 139, and 94.
11 AM-1 PM +++ Donna, Bernie, and Katie
KATIE: Thank you to Divine Grace Parish (Pam, Maria, Maria and Ann!) as well as a full team of Advocates in the 11-1 shift today (Bernie, Donna and Donna!) It wasn’t as busy as usual, and early in the shift a young woman came out and seemed very pleasant as she accepted literature from Bernie, which was a good sign at least, although she didn’t stop to talk. Another woman left much later and also seemed to be in a friendly and cheerful mood, and she was looking at the literature and started to walk back towards us, so I told her that if she was pregnant we would love to help, and she said she was “just” there for birth control, but unfortunately her ride was there at that point, so I just told her that if she ever needs it or if she knows anyone who might be pregnant there are lots of resources in the green pamphlet, and hoped that she’d see the birth control section in Sheila’s Green Masterpiece that somehow has everything you could ever hope for in pro-life literature! Elsie and I were talking about the coverage for Good Friday, and if anyone is available after Stations to reach out to the mothers and fathers of the children condemned to death on the day of our Lord’s Passion, even if you aren’t trained, I believe God can do more with a loving soul and a green pamphlet than a “resounding gong” with all the training in the world! (Not that I’m referring to any of our people as gongs, you’re all awesome, you know what I mean!) I realize that Holy Week is super jam-packed with all sorts of liturgical goings-on, but if your parish has a gap from 10:30-12, which is empty, or 12-2 to partner with Donna, I will ask St. John and our Blessed Lady for their intercession as you stand at the foot of the cross for these babies!!
1-3 PM +++ Elsie, Bernadette, Bob, and Frank
ELSIE: Katie, the two Donnas, & a nice group of parishioners from Cranberry were still keeping vigil for awhile after my arrival. We were joined by lovely Bernadette and her fellow St. Matthew’s parishioners, who have faithfully stood with the babies every Friday throughout these 40Days. They are all so kind and personable, as well as prayerful!! It is my fervent hope that they will continue coming out to the sidewalk throughout the whole year!!!
We tried to offer literature to all who were entering or exiting the death mill, as well as to passers-by. One friendly man told us that he is expecting a baby soon, so we gave him a Blessing Bag for his lady, as well as a Green Brochure for free resources. Another man shared that he helps care for a family member’s child who is in need of clothes, so we let him know that Genesis (412-766-4934) gives out free clothes for kids ages Newborn through 18 YEARS! (Genesis is a GREAT place to donate your children/grandchildren’s outgrown clothes — & a worthy beneficiary if your church group does a clothing drive!)
At the end of the shift I had the pleasure of meeting Val & Mike, who were joined by an impressive group of prayer-warriors from Weirton, WV.
3-5 PM +++ Pat, Val, and Mike
