As I grew up and entered high school, the passion for life that my parents had instilled in me continued to grow. Abortion continued to be legal, and the pro-life movement hadn't made the kind of progress I had hoped to see. Sometimes I would go to church and wonder how we could all just sit there and worship in peace and happiness when babies had no guarantees to even take their first breath, much less worship their Creator.
I will never forget the day I found out that a guy, who was at one time a close friend of mine, had recently taken his girlfriend to have their baby aborted. It seemed like such a cold-blooded decision. I couldn't imagine that it was even true until one night I received a phone call from him. He was straight to the point, and this was his message to me: "Stay out of our decision and keep your mouth shut." I hadn't talked to him in awhile, but this tone seemed so foreign to his usually happy demeanor. There was a hardness, and I knew that not only had a woman and a baby been affected, but a man's life was forever changed, as well.
High school turned to college. I had spent a lot of time in the Mt. Auburn area of Cincinnati well before college days, and knew that a large, busy abortion clinic existed right there on Auburn Ave. I passed it many times during my four-years in the area, and every single time my heart and my conscience would speak to me about the atrocities that took place inside that gated, cold, chamber of death. Could it really be that a historic Bible College existed mere blocks from the awful place and yet the presence of God that so permeated the college campus and its students wasn't strong enough to reach over and protect the innocent? In retrospect, I don't remember at any time during my college experience hearing about opportunities for students to share God's love in sidewalk counseling, through quiet prayer, or even silent witness there at Planned Parenthood - Mt. Auburn. I participated in pretty major crusades against drugs in our community and adjacent neighborhoods, but I don't remember efforts being made by our students for the babies. Maybe there were and I'm just not remembering.
Then life took me back to my home community to live with my husband, raise a family, and begin a career - all of this in my hometown, which was still free from the disgrace of an abortion clinic. Two years later, we elected a pro-life President and with that election came a sense of hope that life would triumph soon.
Eight years passed, legislation was written {and in some states became law}, and then Americans elected the most pro-abortion President our country has ever seen. For unbelievable evidence, visit www.jillstanek.com. It is disturbing and chilling to see how far then-Senator Obama would go to make sure a baby didn't have a chance at life.
In 2010, my conservative hometown quietly accepted its first abortion clinic. In fact, it was open for some time before many of us knew it existed. Capital Care of Lima does not perform surgical abortions, but they refer those patients to their offices in other Ohio locations. Of course, they do offer non-surgical abortion options for women whose pregnancies are yet young enough. As soon as I found out that Capital Care had opened its doors here, I looked up their website. I guess I had to see for myself that they really were what I had heard they were. Once again, I couldn't believe that we were sitting by and allowing this to creep into our community!
The lone silver lining in this dark cloud was that our crisis pregnancy center was able to open a satellite office right next door to the abortion clinic. By next door, I mean the next suite. They share a roof! God worked in amazing ways to allow Heartbeat of Lima to acquire the means for renting the office space, and then He equipped them with the machines to do ultrasounds, as well as volunteer technicians to perform them and volunteer medical doctors to oversee the whole thing!
I really feel that this battle for life will not be won politically. However, we must still speak with our vote. This battle likely will not be won with gruesome placards and horrific stories. Yet they still have their place. It seems to me that in the fight against abortion - or for life - we will be victorious as we put ourselves out there to be a friend to the woman who is in trouble. Heartbeat of Lima knows when that clinic is open, and they have sidewalk counselors ready to greet every single woman who walks toward that abortion clinic. The sidewalk counselor is kind, concerned, trained, and offers a free ultrasound. Every single week I get emails telling me, to the best of their knowledge, how many have continued on to their appointment next door, how many have come in for the free ultrasound, and how many have asked for help with an adoption plan. How I rejoice when I receive those emails! And you know what? Some months, that abortion clinic is hardly even open! Praise the Lord!
Statistics say that 1 of every 3 women has had at least one abortion. In the last 40 years, 55,000,000 pre-born babies have been murdered. Numerous reports of botched abortions have surfaced. In many cases, the infant victims have been left to die in a soiled linen area of the hospital (again, see www.jillstanek.com). In some of the states abortion is restricted, but in others it is practically on demand. As Planned Parenthood bloats itself with US tax dollars (to an even greater extent as the Affordable Care Act takes effect), reaches its way even further into America's schools, and continues to forge tight relationships with organizations that have a huge impact on girls, we must continue to share the message of life.
We are pretty good at having babies, but how good are we at sharing with women of all ages that life is a gift from God? That a baby is a baby from the moment it is created? How good are we at supporting those who are on the front lines of the choose life movement? Do we find it easier to gather our kids around the dinner table, think happy thoughts, and ignore the whole mess? Let me encourage you to be the person who is approachable. People are carrying burdens. Apparently one out of every three women has faced a pretty major crisis, and let me assure you...if they've already had an abortion, they are gonna need a shoulder. A post-abortive mom said this to me just last week, "In the schools where I speak, I tell the girls that they may not regret their abortion the next day, or even the next week, but at some point they will regret it." Hers was 35 years ago. And tears were still streaming as she spoke of it. She's still regretting.
There is so much to say on this topic. There is an evil churning in America that we can't really see. It is a connection that ties liberal feminists, blood -thirsty abortion doctors, wealthy political figures, and women who are at their weakest moments physically and emotionally. This connection is reaching deeply into America's education system, from elementary schools to universities. They have found that the best way to get to women is to become their friend before they hit the high school years.
I think that most of us want to be pro-active, but we don't always know where to start. I think we need to understand that the little things matter. If you are wanting to become active in the fight for life in your community, I encourage you to:
- Become knowledgeable about the legal case Roe v. Wade. Learn from trusted sources, not those who would try to gloss over the truth.
- Read the book Won By Love, which is the story of Norma McCorvey (the Roe in Roe v. Wade). For a quick overview, follow this link to her story. Unbelievable. This whole case was based on trickery.
- Investigate clubs and social organizations before supporting them. You know those famous, yummy boxes of cookies that are sold every spring? I haven't bought one in years. Do your homework. Planned Parenthood gets its money from lots of places.
- Teach your children - and every child you influence - about the value of life.
- Seek our your local crisis pregnancy center and volunteer your help.
- Every time you leave your home, pray that God will direct you to someone who needs you. If you spend time at the library, the grocery store, the park, or the museum, you will likely pass many people who have been affected by abortion. You may be the one who helps to show them the path to life.
I have been enjoying your blog. Loved this article. You said it very very well.
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