This morning I was back outside Planned Parenthood, praying for the babies, the mothers, the fathers, the grandmothers, the friends, the staff and volunteers of the clinic, and some of the protesters with me that they would know Jesus’ grace. His grace has meant so much to me. We’re all just sinners; only accepting God’s grace makes a difference. That is humbling and unifying.
I was looking at the signs the pro-lifers had up. Some make no sense, strange verses that don’t have much to do with babies or life or salvation. Others are simple and obvious, like “Abortion kills.” Popular are bloody photographs of what an aborted baby looks like, how old it was, how big, etc. When the scared, confused, selfish, or arrogant girls drive in, I can’t imagine how they go through with their abortion facing the evidence in front of them. My bet is that while doctors tend to have posters and pamphlets and full-disclosure of the procedures in other fields, the Planned Parenthood walls were not postered with happy photographs of beheaded infants, though the volunteers who escort women inside cheerfully pretend there is a party inside.
Even though I see the potential impact of these signs and accompanying rhetoric, I much prefer the other signs. These are photos of live babies, in the womb or already birthed. If I had a baby, I’d bring it to the clinic to protest. The pleas accompanying these signs are, “Please, mom, don’t kill your baby! Come talk to us. Any help you need, we’ll get it for you for free. Is it a boy or a girl they’re going to kill today?”
I don’t know where the propaganda comes from, but somehow the mothers and abortionists think that we stand shivering in the cold, early Saturday mornings for greedy reasons of our own. The staff yell back at the protesters trying to intercede for helpless, innocent infants, “You hypocrites! Judge not.” We’re called idiots, stupid, and unfeeling.
But the people out there care. Almost every family I know that protests also supports crisis pregnancy centers and adoption. Most have adopted. If a baby is saved, the mother is not abandoned. She is mentored, and cared for, and given options. Some of the women protesting have experienced the life-altering impact of abortions by having one themselves. Now they know. They’ve repented. Many have experienced Jesus’ forgiveness and peace. And they want to help the girls today to find that peace, as well.
Today was the first day I went without close friends or family. When I sit there I don’t know what’s wrong, but I’m emotionless. I know the facts, and they don’t add up to what I see before me, and maybe the lack of comprehension in my soul overwhelms me and shuts down my feelings. The first time I went, I was worried that I would do something rash, impulsive, drastic, physical, and illegal. But I didn’t, and still don’t have very strong urges to do so. I’m safe, then, going to meet strangers. Being there on my own moved several of the grandmotherly women to compassion for me, I guess. They gave me hugs. I don’t usually hug strangers, but I felt their love, their comaraderie.
Look. I’m rambling about my experience, and rarely conclude well. A blog is one endless conversation; shouldn’t it just transition into the next post? But I do want to say: do something. Support a crisis pregnancy center. Consider adoption. Protest. Fund protests. Write your state and federal congressmen. Get your church involved. Give a baby a hug.
To God be all glory,
Lisa of Longbourn
Thank you for your passion to speak out against this horrific crime. There is a clinic in Dallas that is a free prenatal clinic for anyone who needs care. It is right down the street from an abortion clinic. The free clinic is run by christian people who don’t post their christianity on their door. They just welcome in anyone. Once the young mom is there they offer her a sonogram to see how far along she is. During the sonogram the nurse begins to show the mom her baby & point out all of the tiny parts. She lets her watch her baby move and roll around. “What a sweet baby that is” Most of the time once the mom has seen her baby she decides not to abort. The clinic takes care of her care & puts her in contact with adoption agencies if she chooses that. Most of these moms think they are coming to the abortion clinic. I think because it is so close to the abortion clinic. There are no pictures of mutilated babies only the whole perfect sweet ones. I don’t like Planned Parenthood at all and have friends that protest and our family supports in many ways these non-profit, pro-life, pregnancy clinics.
I don’t think scare tactics with the gross posters are right. There is great power in the reality of God’s creation and His Word.
From a Mom of many blessings
Thanks for commenting!
I’m excited for the generous and compassionate ministries that are showing moms what choice they’re making. We’ll be back at the clinic this Saturday. You can pray for us and for the people there who need to either hear the gospel or be encouraged.
“And let us CONSIDER one another in order to stir up love and good works…” – Hebrews 10:24
To God be all glory,
Lisa of Longbourn