DAY 23: “It’s my baby, too!”
In a recent talk during this 40 Days for Life campaign, I mentioned that the pro-life movement is made up of sinners.
We are all sinners … and the pro-life effort includes many who have had abortions, doctors who have done abortions and thousands who at one point sincerely defended abortion but are now pro-life.
Many know the pain of abortion — including men.
After my talk, a man with passion in his face and tears in his eyes shook my hand and shared how his past sin of abortion is still deep in his heart.
Men can play a large role in an abortion. They can abandon women when they hear they’re pregnant. They can encourage — and many times pay for — the abortion. Their mistakes are real, but so is their pain.
Other fathers are told they have no rights, no voice … and they can do nothing to stop an abortion. And that, too, can hurt deeply.
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GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA
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Volunteers prayed as three young people walked into the abortion center – a young man and his girlfriend, plus another female friend whom they described as verbally abusive. A short time later, the young man walked out of the building, sat on the steps – and stared at the signs the prayer volunteers were holding.
Before long, he told his story. His girlfriend was pregnant. She already has a child and wants an abortion … a decision her friend strongly supports.
The volunteers showed him fetal models, and he was totally shocked at the level of development of a 12-week baby. He said his girlfriend promised she would not abort if she was past 14 weeks … but she and her friend were quite angry with him for not supporting the abortion.
The friend then got in her car and took off, stranding the young man at the abortion center. One of the vigil participants asked if the angry friend had previously had an abortion. “How did you know?” the young man asked. To those familiar with post-abortion pain, it seemed a reasonable suspicion.
He went inside once again, where he learned that his girlfriend was nine weeks pregnant and going ahead with the abortion.
He came back out, “fell to his knees and dropped his cell phone and cigarette and cried so many tears that they wet the sidewalk,” the volunteer said. He kept repeating, “It’s my baby, too!”
The young man was offered emotional support and guidance, financial assistance – even a ride back home. “Please pray,” said the volunteer, “that God would somehow turn this tragedy into repentance and a future that would glorify His name.”
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AUSTIN, TEXAS
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Vigil participants often see a man walking his dog on the sidewalk near the vigil. One day, one of the volunteers simply said, “Good morning!”
The man walked down the street a bit, but then turned around and walked over. “I want to tell you something,” he said. “I know that I’m responsible for three of them” – abortions – “and your sign that says ‘men regret lost fatherhood’ is exactly right. I do regret it … and I want you to know I support what you’re doing here.”
Another volunteer said all it took was a smile to get the attention of a woman walking towards the abortion facility. She walked over to the vigil participant, who was standing next to a display that said “free pregnancy tests and free ultrasounds.”
The woman said she was coming for a pregnancy test. “I heard Planned Parenthood was the place to go,” she said, adding that if she was in fact pregnant, she wanted her baby.
The volunteer mentioned to her that Planned Parenthood only offered sonograms to women who wanted an abortion. The young woman quickly realized that Planned Parenthood was NOT the place to go.
Here’s the link to today’s devotional.
For Life,
Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life
PS: In addition to 40 Days for Life, please be sure to participate in the many other important pro-life events taking place in October, a month marked by many churches as Respect Life Month.
Additionally, this Saturday, you are invited to participate in one of the Stand Up for Religious Freedom rallies that are scheduled in more than 145 cities around the United States to peacefully oppose the federal mandate that requires employers (faith-based and otherwise) to carry insurance plans that pay for abortion-causing drugs. Find a rally near you and get involved by visiting:
PPS: Have you had to overcome hesitation to step out and pray at a 40 Days for Life vigil? If you have, please leave a comment below.
October 18th, 2012 at 4:16 am
Charlotte, NC – Hebron-
Glory to God that there were 2 saves today in the afternoon. 2 Hispanic moms chose life and one already has a Dr. Appointment. With local pro-life doctor!
According to prayer volunteers todays “it was packed, and though two men accepted literature and resources, they drove away, leaving their wives and children at the mercy of the abortionist.” Often we see men acting like less than that, men who should be defending these women and babies, instead cowering away-even when they “don’t approve. They have drunk the kool-aid in some instances that there is nothing that they can do, its a woman’s body and her right. Wrong on several points. The first thing is that these and many men can start acting like men and foregoing sexual intimacy until marriage, being pro-life and having pro-life conversations with their to be wife. Sadly though we also see married couples coming for abortions, I think of two phrases regarding this. The first, what God has brought together let no man put asunder, God put together the man and woman and put together (formed) this baby that they are allowing the abortionist to destroy and the other, the part of marriage vows “till death do us part,” how many marriages survive abortion, I wonder, especially if one parent is for and the other against.
The prayer volunteers also noted that, ” two separate couples actually brought a toddler with them, to wait while their siblings were killed. One man carried an infant carrier. It was heart-wrenching.” Having lost a baby brother or sister to abortion this is something that greatly affects me as well. I spend everyday missing my sibling and it hurts.
How many men and women don’t even know about the siblings or other relatives who are missing but maybe “know” something (someone) is missing in their lives. I think abort the save the week prior at Latrobe where the woman brought one of her children to translate for her at her appoint for the death of a sibling, thank God for the mercy and truth shown and accepted in that situation. I think about the 2 children that I held earlier in the year while the grandmother supposedly went in to bring the mom out, coming out a half hour later just to take the children and leave their mom, will they ever know someone is missing? I think about the woman last week who as I offered to adopt her unborn child said I’ll think about but told me regarding the baby girl in the back that I “can’t have that one.”
I think about the prayer volunteer who shared that their spouses parent disclosed multiple abortions; the spouse has no actual knowledge about the lost siblings -I wonder if do they innately know.
Missing.
Abortion in America in just under 40 years has left 54 Million unborn missing from our lives.
If you are not praying and doing everything you can to help bring an end to abortion today won’t you?
October 18th, 2012 at 7:13 am
I have been in the pro-life movement for over 20 years. I still get a queasy feeling in my stomach every time I go to pray in front of an abortion center. It is our modern day calvary, Would we have had the courage to walk with Jesus on the way to his crucifixion? Whatever we do to the least of His people we do to Him. God will remember us as He remembered the women who wept as he carried His cross and Veronica who had the courage to wipe His bleeding face. Be not afraid, He goes before us always!
October 18th, 2012 at 8:10 am
Standing up in our town’s square with a small group of people was DEFINITELY out of my comfort zone. I am more of a wallflower by nature and dislike confrontation, so even though I was prolife, I wachted the previous campaigns from the sidelines. I KNOW that life begins at conception (it is 6th grade science) and decided that it was time for me to step up and speak out for those who couldn’t, the little children. I find courage by thinking to myself,” Jesus, our perfect God, suffered and died on a cross for MY sins. I can certainly stand on a corner for Him!” I feel like this has given me a shield and now when I stand on the corner I am proud to be there confident that I can take whatever comes my way.
October 18th, 2012 at 8:32 am
overcoming obstacles==my own past and knowing the thoughts that would rush through my head which got in the way at first thought of standing outside the same builiding I was supposed to have my abortion in 17 years ago. So the thought of standing in front of the same building I now pray in front of with you this month can’t but cause me reflection of my son and for so much of the time since then “not wanting to go there” meaning not wanting to think about it all. The good thing is I gave my son up for adoption-the sad thing is all the girls I have witnessed walking in or driving in the driveway to go in back of the building to park during the 40 days of life remind me that it is so difficult when you are pregnant and someone is pressuring you to have an abortion. God is the over-comer of all obstacles and I thank Him that we can be there to offer support to those hurting, confused, lonely and scared.
October 18th, 2012 at 8:48 am
When I was invited by a friend to a 40DFL vigil, I told him that I would “rather have all four wisdom teeth pulled than to go anywhere near that awful place.”
That day was 2/17/2010 – and this is the 5th campaign I have been blessed and honored to serve as coordinator for.
Since that first campaign – Fall 2010 – God has shown our campaign 133 saves. He also helped us save one post-abortive woman from suicide. My wife and I are now God-parents to one of the saves He introduced to us on 2/24/2011. Recently, we were also invited to witness the birth of one of the saves he showed us in the Spring 2012 campaign – a beautiful boy!
When I first started doing this, I was in awe of the work people had done before me. I had heard of an older gentleman in Chicago who has a thick scrapbook filled with pictures of lives God had helped him save. He became my role model – and I don’t even know his name!
Since God showed me my first save on 8/3/2010, He has continued to bless us – 228 times since that hot August day – that we know of!
Those saves are growing up. Their parents are coming back to show us their beautiful children. We’re going to need a bigger scrapbook!
Don’t wait to get involved. Today is the day that the Lord has made – let us rejoice in Him – TODAY!
October 18th, 2012 at 9:02 am
The story of the father who cried “It’s my baby too,” has me in tears as well. May God have mercy on us all.
October 18th, 2012 at 9:11 am
Hi Shawn
How true it is that abortion hurts men as well. Here at Lumina, we do retreats for post aborted men with the CFR’s. Our last one on Sept 29th had 9 men who were truly grieving and regretting abortion.
The day after, I received this witness from a man who saw one of our pamphlets in a church in NYC…I thought I would share this very powerful witness with you
http://postabortionhelp.org/pah/me-who-could-have-sex-with-her-like-a-man-was-now-like-a-scared-kid/
October 18th, 2012 at 9:30 am
I am Rachel still weeping for my children who are no more. I need to be on that sidewalk. God has forgiven me, I have accepted His forgiveness, but there is an unexplainable chasm between me and that sidewalk. I am not alone. Pray for those of us God is calling to feel the hand of Jesus leading us to get on our knees at those clinics! “God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and discipline. So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or of me His prisoner; but join me in suffering for the gospel, according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling — not because of anything we have done but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 1:7-9
October 18th, 2012 at 10:04 am
The tears that young man in Austin prayed were the Lord’s tears; the pain he felt in his heart was the Lord’s pain. I’m assuming his child’s life was ended. But this young man can have hope–hope for healing in this life, and hope that he will see his child again one day.
Lord, I pray for this young father that so desperately wanted his child to live. Thank you that his heart is in the right place–loving his child the way YOU love that little child. Heal the hurt in his heart. If he hasn’t already done so, may he repent of his sins and receive you as savior; I pray the same for his girlfriend and the other young lady. May all three of these young people find healing in you. Surround them with people who will love and care for them. Give them HOPE and LIFE in you. I pray this in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, who loves each of us SO much!!
Thank you, 40 Days team, for all that you do to save lives and to bring healing. Blessings to all of you. God is GOOD!!
October 18th, 2012 at 10:07 am
Oops! I should have said that the young man was in Glendale. The Lord still knew who I was praying for. :>}
October 18th, 2012 at 10:37 am
Like others, I have participated in pro-life activities from the sidelines. I read everything that I could, raised money for pregnancy centers, prayed and fasted but didn’t feel comfortable standing in public. Two years ago, I decided that I needed to step out of my comfort zone and be a public witness. I remember my first time driving to the 40dfl vigil. I have a husband and four small children, and quite frankly, I was scared of being shot, but I told myself…if I died praying to end abortion…at least I might have a strong case to get to heaven! I pushed through my hesitation and stood (alone) across from PP. Nearing the end of my shift, a guy drove by, slammed on his brakes and made a “L” sign on his forehead. Because I had said about 9 or 10 rosaries by then, I was pretty mellow. I smiled a huge smile and waved enthusiastically. He looked at me strangely and drove away. It was only on my way home that I realized that that “L” stood for “loser” and not “Love!” Talk about the Holy Spirit protecting you! I have gone several times since.
October 18th, 2012 at 3:10 pm
Usually I have to resist a rotten mood, low energy or laziness that try to keep me from praying outside Planned Parenthood, but I always am happy I went. And I enjoy the fellowship of fellow pray-ers, fresh air and God’s presence.Thank you, wonderful Memphis prayers warriors who have welcomed this California transplant. By the way, I haven’t always believed pro-life, but am grateful God protected me and changed my mind and heart.
October 18th, 2012 at 3:46 pm
It’s hard to believe that the first time I heard about 40 Days for Life in 2008
I sat on the side lines and prayed from home, never imagining myself-though gregarious as I am-standing out holding a sign and praying in thepublic square – fast forward to 2009 I accepted the invitation of the 2008 coordinator to come to a meeting for 40 Days for Life 2009 fall campaign. That year I was the MC for the opening rally and then the group asked me to lead after we had a very successful Ladies for Life Tea Fundraiser. Now I have led 5 campaigns and I love standing out on the sidewalk praying and holding a sign. I even like being out there alone – with God as my army- and praying and greeting the people walking and driving by. Granted we are not standing outside an abortion “mill”, but a giant hospital that does
abortions for “theraputic” reasons. I have been at Planned Parenthoods through out the country though – you can feel the evil and cut is with a knife
outside many of them – even when they are closed. I pray in solidarity with
all you prayer warriors and sidewalk counselors to hold you up and give you courage stand on the front lines everyday and batter evil face to face. May God bless you abundantly here and in heaven – where a choir of angels and souls of the unborn will be assisting us at our judgement.
October 18th, 2012 at 5:52 pm
Praying in front of the clinic in Eugene, Oregon, I noticed a Hispanic couple drive past and pull in the next drive way. We started to pray and the door opened and the couple walked in from the alley way.
I decided to go around the clinic area, praying. I saw the man standing in the clinic drive way and ask the LORD to give me an open door to talk to him. I greeted him and asked if he spoke Spanish, which he did. I gently asked him about the women inside and he said she was just a friend. I spoke of the value of EACH life and asked him if he would consider going in and telling his friend that we CARE and had resources for her right now. He replied that though he agreed that life beings at conception, it wasn’t his decision. I asked again if he wouldn’t go in and talk to his friend. He replied that the clinic told him he couldn’t be inside. My heart broke that this man who was apparently a father himself ( 2 carseats in his auto) that he couldn’t be the protector of the innocent. I later gave him my name and ph. # in case his friend needed to talk to someone. How my heart grieves for the pain she will experience. Please pray for Isabel
October 18th, 2012 at 5:54 pm
Let us pray for the unborn and their parents. God Bless!
October 18th, 2012 at 7:56 pm
Heather Lee Finn, my heart goes out to what you said and are doing. Thank you for your work, for everyone who is out in the field. :-)
October 18th, 2012 at 10:37 pm
kristen you gave me a chuckle in the midst of all the sadness of abortion. I’m so glad the Lord protected you to make you think the “L” stood for Love…too cute!
October 19th, 2012 at 2:29 pm
On All Souls Day, PLEASE Pray for Mrs. Margaret “Margie” Mary Lyons; Born November 5th 1948, Married January 1st 1984 to Mr. John H. Lyons, Beloved WONDERFUL Wife for 23 1/2 EXCELLENT Years, Passed Away June 5th 2007 due to Colo-Rectal Cancer!!!!!
May She Rest in Peace, and GOD Bless HER!!
THANK YOU,
Mr. John H. Lyons