INTERSECTIONS

It was NOT just another day at the mill last week. As I pulled my car into the parking lot next door, I was shocked but not shocked to see a fire truck. I began praying and sticking my baby signs on the public grass area. Lord have mercy! Please help! I pleaded within.  In all the  years I have been on the sidewalk, I have never witnessed, a scene such as I was beholding. Shortly thereafter, an ambulance arrived.  I wondered about all the possibilities and of what happened to this poor soul who thought she might have a simple procedure and destroy her child. I also prayed for all the women inside who were witnessing this unfolding event, hoping perhaps they might walk out. Most women do not have any idea of the serious emotional health risks when undergoing an abortion such as increase guilt and regret, dreams about your dead child, hearing your baby cry at night and not to mention the feelings of helplessness and repressed anger and depression.

I continued to watch and pray. Shortly thereafter, an ambulance arrived. A few people walked out of the clinic, to make way for the gurney and paramedics. It was surreal to say the least! It was impossible to park in the lot as it was blocked. As cars tried to pull in, I used this emergency to inform these men and women, that there is not only is a child being killed inside, that you might also end up losing your life!

A woman completely covered by a sheet was rolled down the death plank as many onlookers stared. I gasped, “oh know, she must be DEAD!” I prayed and prayed. The urgency of these medics was minimal. The fire engine left shortly after the ambulance. I ran over and asked the driver, did someone die today?  No, she emphatically stated with little emotion.

I curiously asked, “Why was she covered up?”

She said in a Joe Friday tone, “She didn’t want anyone to see her.”

As the truck pulled away, I pondered her words. This poor soul, looking to end the life of her child felt shame and embarrassment . Why now? Why didn’t she cover up going in? Perhaps, this moment would be a beginning for a true healing of her soul from the tragedy of yet another abortion in our disposable society.  I pray for all post abortive women who will spend the rest of their lives never quite recovering from the loss of their child (ren) on the altar of self centered-ness. Indeed, there is hope after abortion and I pray that these women will find a place of recovery.  Rachel’s Vineyard is that place with support and grief recovery for all involved in this terrible tragedy and plague in our communities worldwide. Visit http://www.hopeafterabortion.com.

Post Script. The INTERSECTION

I work in Real Estate. I received a text lead from a buyer last Monday. I wasn’t too thrilled by the lead as the buyer was fishing for info on a property he already had submitted an offer through another Realtor.  I called anyway and offered to find out about his offer and help him out as he seemed to really want this home.  He said, his Realtor wasn’t returning his calls.  He asked me if I might help him find some other homes just in case this one did not work out.  He was super busy with his work and his girlfriend would be meeting with me and previewing homes. I said, no problem! Happy to help.

Last evening I met this young Asian couple! Super sweet and eager to be a homeowner. They were the ideal candidate with a 20 percent down payment.

After knocking on the door of the last home , we were asked to wait 30 minutes to see it as the owner was not home yet. They were eager to wait. During the 30 minute wait , I asked questions about their life in China under the one child per family policy . They said , it has changed now , but most families still do not trust the government and will abort their second child out of fear. I asked if they like movies… and I shared about UNPLANNED, the movie as this film gives insight into the raw reality of the abortion industry in America.

They wanted to hear more about the film . I showed them the trailer and shared about my work on the sidewalk . I clicked on my photo images and quickly scrolled through to share a bit more about my work in front of Planned Parenthood . The woman looked intently at my photos as I scrolled thru quickly and she exclaimed, “Wait , go back! What is that ? An ambulance ?? ”

I said yes!  “Last week a woman came out of the abortion mill covered up as she had been seriously injured while having her abortion.”

She said , “I was inside with my sister she was aborting her child as she already had 2 children and didn’t want another! We witnessed all the commotion and saw her being wheeled out. My sister was so scared she almost did not have her abortion! ”

I said, “how tragic and ironic! I was there at the same time! I will pray for your healing All of heaven weeps.”

She quietly received my words and seemed quite stunned at the turn of events.

I wept within. If only I had been their earlier that day. God have mercy on us.

Now they truly know that abortion kills a child after I witnessed the truth in love of what abortion is . They truly seemed to receive it in their hearts as this house seeking couple seemed quite shocked at the irony that I was there at the same time as this woman had been there with her sister…..a truly miraculous INTERSECTION of our lives last week!

They gratefully received the pro life information including healing from an abortion pamphlet . I also shared a bit about my journey of faith and the love of God pouring out to hurting mankind thru His only Son .

Yes, we did see the house shortly there after. It was not their cup of tea , but perhaps by the grace of God , I gave them a glimpse of their eternal home and desire to never harm an unborn child in the womb again.

Truly it was a holy unplanned moment birthing hope in the tragedy of yet another child killed on the altar of Planned Parenthood ‘s agenda.

Expectantly Waiting

I wait expectantly with hope, faith, and love. Perhaps this day, I might catch the heart of a pregnant mother intent on killing her precious unborn child.

A friend from Colorado reached out a few weeks ago and asked if she might join me at the mill and pray as I stepped in the crack of the sidewalk waving for the driver to stop.  My friend prayed her rosary and sprinkled holy water in the driveway at PP and along the sidewalk. This particular day, more cars stopped than usual. Without a doubt, I knew it was the prayers. Even with all the prayer covering there was still a few cars that quickly pulled in with a quick acceleration of the gas pedal and an unwelcoming frown. I continued walking and praying with my friend, hoping this day a child might be saved from death.

A short while later, a white SUV pulled in. The driver, a young Hispanic man in his early twenties, pulled in with a car load of kids and a woman in the passenger seat.  There were 3 bouncing  giggling children  and one infant child strapped in a car seat. They were full of smiles unaware of the precarious moment. I joyfully said, “this valentine dress is for your child!” She looked startled and I continued. “God has plans for your baby. Whatever you are going thru, we can help.”

I glanced at the driver and he looked at her.  I continued, “we have people waiting right now to give you what you need. Your unborn child wants to live! ”

I  caught her perplexed gaze  and emphatically pleaded, ” just back up the car and park behind my car over there and we will go over to a pregnancy clinic!”

This young man, heard my loving command, and quickly put his SUV in reverse and backed up out of the Planned Parenthood driveway as the stunned gun toting guard looked on.  The young woman was tightly holding the valentine dress I had just given her.  Gratefully, my friend stayed at the mill and prayed for another 45 minutes as this family followed me  over to our pro life pregnancy clinic.

Indeed, another miracle happened between the cracks in the sidewalk.  At the clinic, this young lady was given a free ultrasound and support as well as a photo of her unborn child. From despair to hope in 30 minutes! My friend and  I brought lunch to the family as they waited in the car as mom  visited the pregnancy support clinic.

Moreover, God’s graces continue to pour over this family. Our pro life community has rallied around  to help them with gift cards,  and most important prayers. Last week I reached out to my church community with a real need for this family who chose life. They needed to meet a car payment as  the father needed wheels.  It was a precious moment when I received a generous gift from  our auxiliary bishop, who was celebrating Mass that evening as well as other parishioners who dug into their pockets to help this struggling family.   My heart continues to leap with joy for all these beautiful generous souls willing to help this poor family living in a small garage waiting expectantly instead of grieving eternally over the loss of their precious unborn child.

We wait expectantly until her child is born this coming July.  In the meantime, between weekly calls and visits as time permits, I have been learning a bit about her journey and discovered she was baptized Catholic and used to go to Mass many years ago. Miraculously, there is a Catholic Church less than a mile from her garage home!

Please continue to pray for a safe delivery and gainful employment for her boyfriend and father of all 5 children as they are 21 years old. Unexpected miracles are pregnant with graces. We need to do our little part and  suit up and show up despite the ill feelings of being at the gates of hell with joy filled hearts and planting seeds of hope while walking, praying and sharing!

As the car pulls in…..

On this first day  of the new year, may we desire with all our hearts by HIS GRACE,  to encounter the miraculous in those often mundane moments in life while we strive to suit up and show up and be that sign of hope!

It was just another cold and bluster day at the mill on the feast day of the Holy Innocence. For those who might not know the significance of this important day in the life of the Catholic Church, it is the day we remember the slaughter of all male children under the age of two by Herod the Great.

These past ten years or so, you would think it would become easier to stand in the cracks on the sidewalk and be a sign of hope. Nope. I too struggle with excuses to suit up and show up. Often I am that reluctant pro life counselor. I show up despite the cold wind, and other internal excuses urging me to just do it later.

Almost every parking space was full. I took a deep breath and strategically placed my signs in the public grass area and waited for cars to begin pulling in. SEE BELOW. Before long a young couple pull in.  I flagged them down with a friendly wave and a broad smile. They rolled down the window. I quickly accessed the situation. The male driver listened and his girlfriend looked down. “ Good morning!” I have help for you and your child. ” Why don’t you turn your car around and we can chat across the street. I pointed. I also have a baby outfit for your unborn child. ” I continued. “Abortion does not take away your motherhood or fatherhood.”  God has plans for your beautiful child. We are ready to help! Follow me over to our pro life clinic. We have free resources for you to help you choose life!”

The boyfriend listened intently , she looked down and just as I finished my last sentence, my eyes caught a familiar postage stamp size image of Saint Jude hanging from their rear view mirror.  I pleaded interiorly, St. Jude, please help this couple choose life!

I boldly stated, “dear St. Jude is hanging from your rear view mirror, all is heaven weeping!”  They seemed  startled and they both looked at the image of St. Jude  as she tightly gripped  the baby outfit in her hands.   Just then, the guard interrupted the moment and began frantically waving his hands motioning the driver to pull in. Sadly, he pulled in, and quickly rolled up their car window .

Who knows, maybe this couple changed their mind after I left the mill a bit later. I continued to pray and counsel and just perhaps, Saint Jude being the patron Saint of the Impossible, procured the graces for them to walk out.

Indeed, it was just another day at the mill as cars pulled  in with a few women on this day shouting angry words  with flying fingers pointing at me as well as gun toting security guards taking copious notes about my interactions with each car I stopped to share with. Despite these obstacles, in the midst of the chaos as I was gathering my signs to leave, God showed up and whispered to my heart through a UPS driver’s soft spoken words, “God bless you.” 

Advent Days

As we ponder the coming of our Lord Jesus, I pray for greater  gratitude for the life God has given me.  The more I ponder the depth of God’s love for me, I am filled with deeper JOY and  greater eagerness to hop in the car and race down to the mill and be that beacon of hope and expect a miracle between the cracks in the sidewalk. Often it feels like my little light of love falls between the cracks in the sidewalk as cars filled with pregnant women, and contraceptive minded women, drive past me with barely a glance at my smile  with a quick acceleration of the gas pedal, as the guards motion them inside the Planned Murderhood parking lot.  Indeed it is yet another murder day at the mill and all of heaven weeps.

I mourn this Advent season. Another estimated million children have been murdered in the US alone  on the altar of  convenience this past year. Tragically, too many souls have taken the blue pill: “it’s my body and my choice.” Recent statistics state that their has been a drop in abortions  nationwide. However, I beg to differ. Do these stats include the morning after pill, or all the children murdered by contraception?

This past year, I spent many days at the mill , with a broad smile of hope  attempting to pierce the darkness  of fear surrounding women with loving pro life signs, literature, and adorable baby clothes and most important, a listening ear and a willing heart to help these women choose life . Perhaps, I pray I gained a bit more compassion  and I am learning  to receive His presence in these broken souls seeking a way out of their suffering and pain.

Come Lord Jesus Come… Come into my own stubborn heart and soften it with the light of your unfailing and unquenchable accepting love. I too am a broken vessel needing mercy so I might truly be a channel of mercy in every mundane moment this side of eternity while at the mill  or in community life.

Let us pray this Advent Season and into the new year  a daily prayer to the HOLY SPOUSES Patrons of the UNBORN for the repose of the souls of not only the ABORTED children in the womb, moreover, the DECEASED IN -VITRO Babies as well as our beloved MISCARRIED BABIES.

Holy Mary, who carried Jesus in your womb, St. Joseph, who loved and guarded Mother and Child; Holy Spouses; Patrons of the Unborn, pray for these precious children, deeply loved by The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit. Indeed they have been fearfully and wonderfully made. As the Psalmist writes, “You formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother’s womb.”  Help us NEVER forget their brief precious lives and the dignity they deserve.  These immortal souls now embraced in the Father’s love, we beg you  to heal mothers, and families who weep for their unforgettable children, and may we  witness to the beauty of every human life at the moment of conception despite their tragic death.

MY BODY; NOT YOUR CHOICE

Happy New Year! We are a few weeks ago from the anniversary of the most  unjust law in our land. We must pray and act to overturn Roe vs. Wade.   The war continues as babies die mercilessly by the thousands upon thousands as Planned Parenthood’s slogan  “My body, my choice” feeds the narcissism of  women who choose to abort her baby  by birth control, abortion and the morning after pill.

THE TRUTH IS:                     MY BODY: NOT YOUR CHOICE.

Take a moment and say a prayer for the unborn and join me and thousands of others at your local mill and pray a rosary and be bold and help men and women see it is not their body or their choice.  Be the voice of the voiceless. They are the poorest of the poor. Womb-less , homeless, and immigrants  truly without a home.  Unloved and unwanted. These precious babies in the womb  are not allowed into our world because their mother has bought the LIE .. it is their body and their choice. GOD PLEASE HELP US TO SPEAK THE TRUTH IN LOVE.

I AM NOT ASHAMED

It was one of those days at the mill last Saturday.   I showed up with love in my heart and smiles and bubbling joy to be that sign of hope in the midst of much darkness and despair.   The guards were at their finest.   They were ready with gun in hip to push the cars into the planned parenthood parking lot with an abrupt wave as I  attempted to get the drivers to chat a bit and take my literature.

The cars turned in and I smiled and motioned with one hand and literature in the other to roll down their car window. I battled with the guard who was motioning the cars to come in and ignore my smile. This particular day I wasn’t having much success to say the least.

An SUV pulled in and I could see the rosary dangling from the rear view mirror and the woman looking away from me and I hoped her eye might catch my signs, “ask to see your ultrasound sign or Your baby wants to live!”

A young black couple in their mid twenties jumped out of the car and she walked briskly ahead of him as I pleaded, “I can help.” Your baby wants to live!  Just ask to see your ultrasound.”   The door slammed shut and I prayed in my heart, Blessed Mother please help this couple. I continued walking  back and forth praying my baby rosary hoping perhaps this Saturday, I might see a miracle between the cracks in the sidewalk.

Within a few moments, another woman leaves the mill, I make eye contact with her and waved and gave her a warm smile. She quickly got in her car, I armed myself with literature hoping I might share a bit before she pulled out of the driveway. Indeed she shared with me, not the other way around!  As she pulled out. She stopped and spilled angry words of utter disgust at my signs and repeated , “You should be ashamed of yourself for what you do. ”

I said nothing as she continued to repeat over and over You should be ashamed… in a mocking and belittling tone as she turned out of the parking lot, I shouted out loud with the guards carefully observing and cameras catching everyone’s movement:

“I AM NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. “

AMEN AND AMEN. It was just another day at the mill….  story to be continued…..

FACE IT!

WOW…I  just wanted to share with you  this evening some  TRULY GREAT NEWS!   There is a new  pro life billboard in our community!  NO FAKE NEWS HERE! 🙂   A group of wonderful pro life people are helping to support this billboard! Over 167,000 cars drive by weekly. It is  directly across from a Christian High School and around the corner from a secular high school. PLEASE PRAY FOR MANY BABIES TO BE SAVED   Visit PRO LIFE ACROSS AMERICA! LINK BELOW!  

www.prolifeacrossamerica.org

THUMBS UP!

Life in motion. It was one of those days. I jumped out of my car, loaded up my  doggy stroller  with pro life signs and literature as I was ready to take the next right step and be a listening ear, or give an encouraging word, and most important, a smiling face  full of hope and  joy despite the tragic reality  of innocent lives being sacrificed on this sunny afternoon at our local Planned Murder-hood.

Yes indeed, it was another day in our town as I heard  the church bells ringing in the near distance as a haunting reminder how few parishioners join the very few of us who suit up and show up on the sidewalk weekly and sometimes daily to be that caring voice for these unborn babies whose security in the womb will be ripped away.

I locked  my car with a quick beep and hurriedly walked over to the mill.  I juggled holding onto my box  with one hand and steering my stroller with the other while hoping I would make it to the sidewalk without a spill.

Not quite. I hit a bump in the entrance and my box spilled out into the Planned Parenthood driveway and scattered  my literature everywhere.  Thankfully,  there was not a car yet pulling in and  I scooped everything back into the box and sighed at the mess within and hoped I would find what I needed without losing precious time  looking for that perfect piece of  literature  to give out. My plastic box looked a bit like a messy desk to say the least!  Disorganized was an understatement.  I hurriedly pushed my signs into the grass, as a car pulled in. I waved, their window was already rolled down. A Hispanic couple in their  mid thirties, complete with two childless  car seats in the back seat waited to find out what I was handing out.

” Are you here for birth control?” I asked with concern and a sweet smile.

The man looked a bit shocked at my candor and  hesitantly said,  “yeah, I am.” His wife looked on with a bit of curiosity.

I continued. “Have you heard of natural family planning? He gave me a blank stare. You are coming in for a vasectomy today?”

He nodded, yes.

The guard immediately motioned him to park his car I continued sharing and handed him  a handful of literature from my box, and unbelievable, the info about the dangers of vasectomy was at the top of my box!  I chuckled within and thanked my angel for making it a bit easier to find the info. It was there on top because of my little stumble!

I stepped back from his car window and he proceeded to park his car as I asked him to come over  and we will continue to chat.  Within a couple of minutes, his wife walked into the mill and he walked over to the sidewalk as the guard carefully watched us. I thanked him for taking a few moments to chat with me.

“Before you go in for your appointment, please read this short pamphlet I pleaded from my heart. This is not God’s will for your family.  Most people do not know how using contraception  is contrary to life and most important God’s will for you and your family.” I emphatically shared.

He looked surprised and I continued sharing the risk of prostrate cancer and how this act is not trusting God to provide. I asked him if I might pray with him. I asked  God to give him courage and wisdom to trust Him. He prayed silently along with me. Just as I finished my prayer, I looked up and his wife was beckoning him to come inside for his appointment. He walked away and he promised me he would read what I gave him before he had his procedure.

He walked into the mill and I continued  walking and praying my rosary. I waited  in hope that he might have the courage to walk out. I knew in my heart, anything was possible with God, but knowing the realities of the temptations ever before families in this contraception minded society.  I braced myself for the reality that he might sadly succumb to the pressures inside the mill, to just do it and ignore the still small voice within his heart.

15 minutes passes and I look up at the mill and see the door open.

I was in shock. He was  walking boldly out of the mill with his wife trailing behind!

My heart surged within and I thanked God and waved at him. He looked at me from afar and gave me TWO THUMPS UP!  I mirrored back THUMBS UP with smiles and joy bubbling over within.

Thank you God, I repeated, Thank you God in my heart . Bless this family for their obedience to trust you!

As he exited the mill, with the guard watching closely, he and his wife had the biggest smile and tears were forming in his eyes. “Thank you”.  He said.

I said,” God will bless you and provide for your family and your future children! You are trusting God. THANK YOU!

Indeed, one this day, another MIRACLE at the mill  happened between the cracks in the sidewalk!

Let’s pray fervently for all those families who are using contraception of all kinds from pills, IUD’s , patches, the morning after pill, tubes tied, and vasectomies.  A great resource to share with others is the website and free podcast by Janet E Smith, Contraception, WHY NOT? Great resource to educate yourself and share with  others to make the choice ALWAYS  for life!  www.janetesmith.com

THUMBS UP!

The Baby Dress

Connections.  Each day  I awake with anticipation and wonder with a prayer from my heart. “Lord, I am willing. Please use me to plant and water your seeds with little acts of service from a loving heart and not a dutiful heart.”  Indeed,  a  glance  of love from the heart catching the other’s eye,  may transcend mundane moments  into heaven sent grace filled moments.

Last Saturday was a dot connecting grace filled moment. I showed up at a Planned Parenthood with a few of my pro life signs and a baby dress. I prayed, Lord use me I am willing to do my little part to smile, wave and encourage the driver to stop and chat as they pull in to the mill.

The car pulled in, I caught the eye of the passenger. He seemed to be in his late teens. I motioned him to roll down his window. In one of my hands I carried a red, white, and blue frilly baby dress. He rolled it down as I smiled warmly and noticed the young black teen gripping the wheel and glancing at the adorable baby dress.

I said, “I can help. Here’s a baby dress for you and your baby. We have resources to help you. Your sweet baby wants to live.” 

They both paused and the boyfriend reached for the dress. Within seconds, the pregnant teenager, begins sobbing uncontrollably. Another pro life counselor reaches the driver side and we both encourage her to turn her car around and talk.

30 minutes later this young couple felt our love, support to help them choose life and walk the journey of deepening faith, hope, and love.

Thank you Jesus for allowing me to suit up and show up. May all pregnant women contemplating abortion see their beautiful child as a heavenly sent gift. This soul  longs to be born and experience the beauty of your awesome creation from natural birth to natural death. Lord give us willing feet and rescue the innocent from pending death.

Romans 10:15

“And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.”

Luke 10:2 

“The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest. “