The playing field is there before us—not a football field nor a baseball diamond—but a field that has boundaries that vary according to which side you are on, a field where the players play hard and where lives are at stake and winning means death is eliminated forever from the game.
The field of which I speak is of course the sidewalk at Planned Parenthood, the players are the workers there and the opposing prayer volunteers, the boundary is the wall that separates us— a symbol that represents the huge difference in our beliefs, and the win is the save of a baby and its mother and father from the horror of abortion. The referee? God, of course, who judges and gives penalties and pours out rewards…God who loves unconditionally and without limits.
Today we who were at Planned Parenthood took part in this very fierce battle. There were the usual volunteers who worked hard and were successful in helping to convince six (6) women to turn away from PP and go to Her Choice, a local pregnancy center! Four decided to keep their babies. Four saves in one day!! Praise God! It was incredible and we thanked John Paul II whose feast day was today. We felt his prayers in all that we did.
Also, there were fifteen parishioners from St. James Catholic Church in Gadsden who came to pray and witness throughout the day as part of their Adopt a Day. They covered all the hours, experienced, many for the first time, the stark reality that abortion really happens. They watched as seasoned prayer volunteers poured out their hearts to persuade women to let their children be born, to let them have what God intended them to have and what they themselves had. Is that too much for which to ask?
And…as the final quarter came to its end with only minutes to play, the seven players who remained on the field were encountered by a very fierce competitor indeed, a woman who claimed to be an Alabama legislator. She drove up in her car, parked in the PP lot, rolled down her window, and proceeded to introduce herself. She said that she was there for a meeting at PP. The discussion began, and as we talked, we soon learned of the woman’s pro-choice stance. All seven of the prayer volunteers participated in a VERY HEATED discussion that lasted about twenty minutes. It was a discussion that I will not soon forget because of the intense passion expressed by both sides, and by yours truly. The reality of the battle was made evident to me, probably as never before, and I pray even more fervently that God will give us all the GUTS and GRACE to continue until the Culture of Life prevails.

I wanted to thank all the pro-lifers that have gone before me, that have educated me in the answers to questions in the mind of the public.

Then added, as she walked away, “It’s been 20 (30?) years, and not a day has gone by when I don’t think about it.”

When she left, I realized that she was post abortive. Her words were very encouraging. I hope that we can engage her to join us and also to get some post abortive counseling. Or maybe get her to join 40DFL one day!

Later, another older lady approached me asking me what this was about. She asked about our abortion laws. That gave me time to explain. I asked her about her views. She said she was against abortion. But before 3 months that baby doesn’t have a soul. (I’m noticed this response a few times now… about various ages of the baby having a soul, and before that it’s OK.) I remembered Shawn’s response in Abby’s Book “Unplanned”. This gave me an opportunity to share with her some more. She told me about life in Iraq & her children & grandchildren here. Mentioning the child she had miscarried. And that she wasn’t for abortion.

Mary’s Heart will Triumph over all evil and error!