DAY 17: Ultrasound coupon saves a life
Last week, we reported on a young mother in Louisville, Kentucky who chose life for her baby after redeeming a coupon for a free ultrasound. That story struck a chord with the 40 Days for Life team in Southfield, Michigan.
The Southfield team tried the same idea …
… and it worked!
Howard, one of the prayer volunteers, showed his “free ultrasound” coupon to women who were approaching the abortion facility. One woman took the coupon — she seemed quite excited to get it — but then walked into the building.
She came out ten minutes later — and told the volunteers that while she was inside the abortion center, she had called the pro-life pregnancy resource center to ask about the free ultrasound.
They left the abortion facility immediately. “We did the ultrasound and had everyone crying tears of joy,” said Mike, the 40 Days for Life coordinator in Southfield. “The baby’ mother was so overjoyed to see her baby. Praise God!”
A verbal offer of a free ultrasound is certainly good; it appears, though, that the “free coupon” idea makes it seem more real. And besides, everybody likes to get a good deal with a coupon!
Ultrasound also helped save a life in Bakersfield, California. Of course, the prayer vigil in front of the abortion center had a lot to do with it as well.
40 Days for Life volunteers spoke to a 17-year-old and her mother as they arrived for the teen’s abortion appointment. The girl said she was the youngest of five children and she did not want to disappoint her father.
Tim in Bakersfield said both the girl and her mother seemed to have very hard hearts. Although they listened for several minutes, “they seemed to have no change in their attitude.” But when they were about to walk into the building, someone approached the girl and said, “Don’t be afraid — trust in God.”
When she heard this, tears began rolling down her cheeks. But her mother remained firm.
So the prayer team quickly made arrangements for an ultrasound. As the girl’s mother watched the perfectly formed body of her grandchild on the ultrasound screen, “she began to cry,” Tim said. “The baby’s tiny feet and hands were clearly visible on the screen, and the baby even waved at his mother and grandmother!”
Here’s the video of that ultrasound:
This is most definitely the image of a very young human being. And that fact was immediately evident to both mother and grandmother.
Please pray that more pro-life centers will have greater access to this amazing, life-saving technology!
Today’s devotional is from Fr. Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life.
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DAY 17 INTENTION
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Pray that we choose to trust God to bring an end to abortion soon, no matter how impossible that may seem to others.
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SCRIPTURE
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The hand of the Lord was upon me, and He brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones.
He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry.
He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” I said, “O Sovereign Lord, you alone know.”
– Ezekiel 37:1-3
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REFLECTION by Fr. Frank Pavone, Priests for Life
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You and I are standing in a world today over a field of dry bones: those who have been killed by abortion, those who have been killed by so many other things attacking the dignity of human life. And God has placed us here; we find ourselves here in the midst of this incredible tragedy.
Like Ezekiel, you and I are in a dilemma because God says to us: “Speak and proclaim the Word of Life. Keep doing it. Let nothing deter you.”
People can say, “This is humanly foolish, humanly impossible. How can we transform the world from the path of death that it’s on?”
Yet we choose to do the “foolish” thing rather than the dangerous thing.
If you ever doubt that we can bring an end to this culture of death, this destruction of the family, this destruction of life by abortion, if you ever think for a moment that it’s impossible, then ask yourself this: Can a man who has been scourged, crowned with thorns, nailed hands and feet to a cross, pierced with a lance, has died and been buried; can such a man ever live again?
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PRAYER
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Lord, I thank you for giving me the holy dilemma of having to choose between the foolish thing or the dangerous thing.
Yet for me the solution is clear.
Lord, I will obey you, even if it means aiming for a goal which, in the eyes of others, seems foolish.
I will obey you, and will hope for the end of abortion soon, no matter how impossible that may seem to others. I dare not mistrust you; I dare not doubt your power; I dare not fail to follow your call. In you, who raise the dead, all hope comes alive. Amen.
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PRINTABLE DEVOTIONAL
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To download today’s devotional as a formatted, printable PDF to share with friends:
http://40daysforlife.com/docs/spring2010day17print.pdf
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Yours for Life,
David Bereit
National Director
40 Days for Life
PS: If YOU have a story to share about your experiences during this 40 Days for Life, please submit it as a reply below.
March 5th, 2010 at 7:46 am
The story about the mother and grandmother watching the ultrasound really moved me, and caused me to remember my own experience.
In February 2007, just before I was given sedation, the doctor performed an ultrasound with the screen turned away from me. I supposed at that time that the purpose of the ultrasound was to verify the presence of pregnancy before the abortion procedure was to begin. Two years later, after God forgave me, I began thinking that the law should require that screen to be turned so that the mother can also clearly see, and that she be required somehow to confirm her decision to proceed or not with the abortion. Feel free to contact me for further discussion.
Mary Jane (alias)
March 5th, 2010 at 8:17 am
Let us all pray for an end to abortion in the world.
March 5th, 2010 at 8:34 am
The beauty of life is so clearly shown through an ultrasound—how amazing!
Praise God that this woman was able to see the gift of life growing in her womb and to understand just as clearly that that life must be protected and brought forth to fulfill its purpose. Every human being is created by God and every human being has purpose, a reason for being created.
God Bless all the 40 Days for Life participants!
March 5th, 2010 at 8:36 am
Here in Oklahoma, the State House of Representatives just passed a bill making it mandatory that women seeking abortions have an ultrasound. The bill has gone to teh State Senate. Everyone, please pray that the bill will pass and that the Governor will sign it (he has vetoed this type of legislation in the past).
By the way, welcome to Oklahoma, David.
March 5th, 2010 at 9:03 am
What a beautiful thing these little lives are as they begin their journey to be born. Being a Doulah (birth coach) I am awed and mystified each time I assist a mother who is bringing a life into this world. How anyone can not see God in each and every baby is beyond me. There are always answers for each situation whether the mother chooses to keep her baby or give that baby to a loving couple who cannot have their own. Thank you God for your work in these situations.
March 5th, 2010 at 9:04 am
What a wonderful story, video and devotional. I am so encouraged to hear about the state Senate bill in Oklahoma. Everyone needs to keep praying and hoping for God’ will to be done to stop abortions, in Jesus’ name.
March 5th, 2010 at 9:52 am
So when politicians in Australia suggested that all women who wanted an abortion had an ultra sound that they could see before the abortion was performed, would save the baby’s life, they were right. Not only politicians favoured this but some of Australia’s highest leaders of the Australian Catholic Church. We need to keep pushing this line to get the law changed so all women can see the baby on the ultrasound as part of their pre-abortion counselling and then we see the number of abortions drop to almost zero. Pray for this to become reality.
March 5th, 2010 at 10:01 am
One Small Hand
One small hand
reaching high
To say to the world
I am alive
One small hand
Holding on to life
Declaring to the world
I shall survive
One small hand
a strong silent cry
for the millions of babies
that have lost their lives
One small hand
Showing us Love
One small hand
sent from the Father above
For one small hand
Father, Forgive us we pray
For all the small hands
That we have turned away
Copyright 2008 arm
March 5th, 2010 at 11:23 am
The numbers of babies being saved from abortion just keeps going up every day. Let’s keep up the work with our prayers to end abortion.
March 5th, 2010 at 12:28 pm
God sometimes speaks so loudly we cannot help but hear him! Here is a case of that!
March 5th, 2010 at 12:39 pm
Please ask someone in the DC area when they will have sidewalk counselor training. Your success rate is spectacular, Ted Kershaw
March 5th, 2010 at 1:41 pm
Does anyone have a template of the coupon for the free ultrasound???
I would love to make tons of copies. Seeing the baby makes a difference.
Has anyone worked with a pro-life ob/gyn to coordinate free ultrasounds? We have one crisis pregnancy clinic who has an ultrasound, but they are only open for ultrasounds on Wednesday. This obviously doesn’t help a woman scheduled for an abortion of Friday. Let me know what you know.
Prayers and blessings for all of the wee ones!!
March 5th, 2010 at 1:46 pm
I am reminded of women who claim they want to keep abortion legal & safe for their daughters. What grandmother could see this & consent to having her grandchild destroyed ~ no matter who the father was. It is so contrary to nature for women to kill their children, but we have been convinced by the evil one that we have that “right”. It is a battle over hearts & minds ~ Thank God for ultrasound!
March 5th, 2010 at 2:18 pm
I’m reminded of Dr. Bernard N. Nathanson, a founding member of what was then known as the National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws (NARAL). For those of you who are unaware of this, he narrated the movie The Silent Scream that premiered at a press conference held in the U.S. Senate Office Building in1985. In it is a 7 minute ultrasound showing the abortion process being performed on a twelve week old pre-born child.
Forgive the graphic aspect of this, but what makes The Silent Scream so stunningly stark and almost surreal, is the response of the victim as they are about to be probed, and then gradually dismembered, by a suction tip in the control of an abortionist. The child’s mouth opens wide, as if silently screaming, in reaction to what is about to happen. To see this excerpt of the movie on youtube, is an experience that shocks one to the core of their being, and brings one to tears.
Thankfully, Dr. Nathanson became a convert to the life movement. He was trying to open the eyes of the world to, what he had come to realize was, the atrocity of abortion. This ultrasound of the baby waving is a testimonial. It shows us how the infant in utero will react when treated with tender, loving care. It is as though it is the hand of God reaching out toward Adam, through this child, as it does in Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel painting of The Creation. Side by side, these two videos concretize the ongoing battle of truth versus the lie, of the promoters of life versus the providers of death.
March 5th, 2010 at 3:11 pm
I had a facilitiy across the street from where i used to live. I would scoff at the man with all the abortion photos protesting it everyday, I even yelled at him. I have fathered up to 5 aborted kids. I am so sad by this i burst into tears everytime I think about it. Thank God for his grace and forgiveness beacause many times when I think avout it I still do not forgive myself. It is so so wrong it is unimaginable. It is self centeredness at it’s extremest level, that of commiting murder. I know many do not quite comprehend this as I didn;t but I pray someone sees this and changes their mind. If one baby is saved all heaven rejoices. I can barely see the keyboard from my tears.
March 5th, 2010 at 3:51 pm
AS I READ YOUR STATEMENT MATT I KNOW JESUS HAS FORGIVEN YOU AND
KNOW YOUR SORROW. HE SEES AS YOU LOOK TO THE FUTURE. AMEN
March 5th, 2010 at 6:40 pm
40 days for life saves the unborn. It also helps in saving those whose lives have been affected by having an abortion. This is my first participation in a 40 day vigil and it is bringing me the continued forgiveness and grace of God, Our Savior. I have asked “where was God when I was struggling with my decision to abort”. I realize now, he was on the cross. Through reconciliation and much prayer, 22 years later, I have received his grace of forgiveness.
I was at adoration just this morning, praying the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary when I felt myself place a thorn of crown into Jesus’ head, it crushed me and I thought why? Then, I recalled today’s intention, “Pray that we choose to trust God to bring an end to abortion soon, no matter how impossible that may seem to others”. This morning, I have to admit, I do feel that sometimes it does seem impossible, because of the indifference of so many. I continued to pray my Rosary and then I saw Jesus carrying the cross and upon that cross was my unborn child and then hundreds of unborn children were also there. I was very shaken when I finished my prayers, so much so, that I entered the solitude of the cry room of our church and I, myself, cried like a baby. I continued my adoration in the cry room and I asked God to forgive for me not trusting him to carry this cross of the unborn battle. As I was praying for peace in my mind, I envisioned little angels making a dome shape of protection for the top of my head and then this one little angel appeared in the center of the openness and said “I love you mommy”. It was a beautiful little boy with soft angel wings. God allowed me to see and hear my unborn son, something I have shamelessly asked for for the last 6 months. He is there with Jesus and Mary, as I truly believed he was. Thank you God for today’s gift and the blessings in my life everyday.
After the grace I received this morning, I strongly believe that through our prayer and the repentance of those involved in abortions we can help Christ bring this devastation of life to an end.
My prayers these 40 days (and all days) are not only for those walking into the clinics, but also, for all people of the world to place God first in their lives, and to love themselves enough to not even place one’s self into the act of conception that is not for God’s true purpose.
I encourage all people involved, affected and damaged by the situation of an abortion, seek God’s forgiveness. He is merciful, you are worthy of his forgiveness, repent and pray for his mercy on your soul and the soul of your unborn child.
God is good all the time, all the time God is good.
March 5th, 2010 at 8:55 pm
Matt if you look at the video above it is clear a person exsists inside a mothers womb. The problem is this mother has been lied too. Just like you and I and everyone else have been lied to. We have been lied to for over 37 years. You are not alone. Now that we have good technology like ultrasound, it is clear that a mother is bringing into this world new life. A complete and total new human person. When planned parenthood tells their customers they are about to extract a few cells..Not a baby, the mom and dad of the unborn child believe them. It is up to us to continue to teach others around us about the truth. God can use you Matt. He will not hold your sins against you if you turn away from them. You can now go stand next to that man you used to yell at, and say a prayer with him to bring an end to the murders that are taking place at pp. Can you emagine the joy in Heaven over a baby that has just been saved because of your simple stance on this epic issue Matt?
March 6th, 2010 at 12:08 am
Something happened to Father Nicholas Callahan during his prayer time at the Spring Valley Planned Parenthood site. A young phsically fit man rolled down the window of his car to respond to Father praying and his sign: “PRAY TO END ABORTION”. The young man asked if Father was really praying to end abortion and when he answered “Yes” the young man told Fr Nicholas that that was stupid. Father said that his mother gave birth to him and that was good and to look on line to see what an abortion does to human life. His reply was “I know what happens. My ex-girlfriend has one”. Pray for this young man. Pray for his ex-girlfriend . Pray for all those broken relationships that have the destruction of their baby as the reason why they cannot be with each other any longer. Abortion hurts so much.
March 6th, 2010 at 1:27 am
Hey david just wanted to give you an update from a Long Beach,Ca. abortion clinic that performs up to 40 a day. As we were praying a young mother came out with two children, one in a stroller and the other about two yrs. The lady said that her boyfriend had been sent to prison and she was thinking about aborting the baby. “Those people are so scarry in there” she said, “and you guys must be doing the right thing I’m going to keep my baby”. The ladies offered her resources and prayer and I know she felt alot better as she left that place.
March 6th, 2010 at 6:42 pm
Praise God for the wondrous things He has done! It is true that we are tools in the hands of God, if we let Him use us. Sometimes the things we do that hurt others and ourselves, through a change of heart, we use later to help others to turn to God by our conversion. Each of us is so unique and equally loved by Our Father. The Gospel reading for today is that of the prodigal son. Just the fact that the father ran to meet his son returning to him must not ever be forgotten. Our Father is so generous and kind that no matter what evil we have done, He will always welcome us back when we repent. Again, Praise God!
March 10th, 2010 at 1:44 am
When two state representatives toured the Planned Parenthood in Columbia, Missouri, they were shown a very grainy ultrasound picture. I think Planned Parenthood probably uses an old ultrasound machine that produces low quality pictures, so the mothers and staff will have a hard time seeing the humanity of the pre-born baby there.