DAY 11: An ugly business
There is no other way to say it — abortion is an ugly business.
That’s why abortion advocates attempt to justify it by dehumanizing the baby or giving vague arguments about “choice.” This makes abortion less personal.
The abortion industry wants you to think that the termination of a human being’s life is a “simple medical procedure.”
They can’t let you know the truth — that abortion is always deadly for the baby (in fact, if the abortion doesn’t end the baby’s life, it is considered unsuccessful), and risky for the mother.
One thing you come to understand if you spend time in prayer outside of an abortion facility is that these are simply places of death.
This is a grim reality — but one that points us to recognize the need for prayer and God’s mercy.
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CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA
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As people prayed at the 40 Days for Life vigil outside the abortion center in Charlotte, an ambulance drove up. There were no sirens, giving the impression there wasn’t an actual emergency. Abortion facilities usually instruct ambulance drivers to keep the sirens off. But there was in fact an emergency — a woman was brought out of the building on a stretcher and taken to the hospital.
A similar scenario played out at Charlotte’s other 40 Days for Life location during the last campaign. In that situation, “An ambulance took a woman to the hospital after being wheeled out of the back door of the abortion clinic curled up in a fetal position on a stretcher,” said one of the prayer volunteers.
The abortion centers try to keep these things quiet, but the 40 Days for Life team in Charlotte says it’s important to spread the word.
“We do this so more people can be aware that abortion is not safe,” said Gretchen in Charlotte. “Making abortion legal does not make abortion safe.”
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ITHACA, NEW YORK
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Mary Anne prayed at the 40 Days for Life vigil and watched as a truck arrived. A man got out and made two trips inside the abortion center. He returned to his truck with five boxes.
The truck belongs to a hazardous waste disposal firm that serves medical facilities.
I don’t know how else to put this. The boxes the man brought to his truck most likely contained the remains of aborted babies.
“I could not shake that image of babies made in the image of God being hauled away like that off my mind,” Mary Anne said. “It gives me all the more reason to be out here praying and asking God to have mercy on us all. It was a serene day of prayer.”
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MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE
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There are, of course, signs of hope.
Two pastors helped lead prayer outside the abortion center on a Thursday — a day when normally, about 25 abortions are done. “However,” said Julie, “on this day the number was much closer to 15 or 16.”
The day before, Julie and another volunteer were just ending their prayer time when a young woman approached the building. She said she had come for a pregnancy test.
“She came out soon after and told us they wouldn’t give her one,” Julie said. “She said she would never have an abortion, although her boyfriend was abortion-minded.” The young woman was given information about pro-life pregnancy help centers.
She told the two volunteers, “I’m so glad you were here!” and gave them a hug. It made Julie realize how important it is for Christians to be outside the abortion center every day of the week, not just on abortion days.
“We must persevere in prayer,” she said, “and trust God completely.”
Here’s the link to today’s devotional.
For Life,
Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life
PS: What’s new with 40 Days for Life where you are? Feel to share your stories by leaving a comment below.
October 6th, 2012 at 8:18 am
My neighbor had never come out to pray at an abortion clinic before but he read about the 40 Days for Life sign up for our parish in the church bulletin and remarked to his wife that they should do that. She had, of course, done it before and readily agreed that they should.
Yesterday was his first day there and a young woman apparently was dropped off. She kind of came walking around the building to enter the front door. As we prayed she came out several times to talk on her cell phone. We had asked her if she needed help but then started asking if she needed a ride somewhere. We were thrilled when a taxi pulled up a little later and she left in it. We don’t really know for sure what she was there for or what transpired that took her away. It was well before the abortionist had arrived, though, so we rejoice that at least she didn’t have an abortion on that day.
Another couple with a little girl with them also left before the abortionist arrived. Of course the clinic sent the dad back out to the car with the child. We all know that abortion clinics don’t allow little ones inside. God forbid a woman should contemplate what she is about to do to a child just like this one. The mom went in and out for almost an hour before she finally came out and got in the car and they drove away. PTL!
I think my friend will be back again.
October 6th, 2012 at 10:18 am
Every morning I read the posts from 40 Days for life. Sometimes I just put my head down on my desk and pray. Someday I will stand outside our local abortion clinic with my sign “I regret my abortion, every day”. I don’t have the courage, yet. So I offer up my prayers and rosaries for those who can.
God Bless you all.
October 6th, 2012 at 11:07 am
I live in Elk City, OK. I am not aware of any abortion facilities or 40 Days for Life vigils going on in my city. I would like to get more involved so if you know of anything happening in my city, would you let me know.
Sincerely,
Joyce Hill
The full list of 40 Days for Life vigils is on this web site under “locations.” Thanks and God bless!
–Admin
October 6th, 2012 at 3:42 pm
Let us all pray for an end to abortion. God Bless
October 6th, 2012 at 4:04 pm
This is my sixth 40 Days for Life prayer vigil, and the “outreach” aspect is finally blooming! The great majority of the mothers seeking an abortion outside which we pray are African American, and the vast majority of our prayer vigil participants are white. Not so today, however! Thanks to the leadership of a brave youth pastor, our sidewalk was crowded with black youth this morning. Traffic to the abortion facility is usually depressingly heavy on Saturday mornings. But today, there were very few couples entering. I took tons of pictures for our website! Up until now, during the last five vigils, when a black female pastor or believer has committed to pray for an end to abortion with us in public, she has subsequently been forced to cancel – under pressure from home, work or Church. In the words of Dr. Haywood Robinson, 40 Days for Life Board member who spoke recently to our prayer vigil team, being pro-life is not about which political party you belong to, it’s about being a believer and doing what’s right in God’s eyes!
October 7th, 2012 at 12:51 am
I was outside Family Planning (Killing) Associates in Long Beach, California this morning. A 45-year-old woman stopped to tell me she had aborted her second child at this facility at 19, and the abortion left her unable to conceive. “I have to walk by this facility every day on my way to work and am reminded each time of what I did here,” she told me, tears streaming down her face.
I asked her if she knew Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. She did, and showed me the pocket New Testament/Psalms in her purse. We prayed, and I gave her information on a Long Beach post-abortion class. I told her God has forgiven her, and she needs to forgive herself. “If you really want to get back at the enemy for harrassing you about this, come back and talk to women going in here! What a testimony that would be to someone contemplating abortion.”
“I’ll see you next Saturday!” she promised as she walked away.
October 11th, 2012 at 3:33 pm
Recently upon reading a description of the abortion procedures I was
appalled by the barbarism. Women are subjected to a violent violation
of their bodies under the guise of freedom and choice.
And I was brought to tears by the realization that women promote this
brutality to women. Abortion on demand is the most gruesome violation
of a woman’s body ever imagined.
Abortion on demand is war against new life and women.