Recently, dozens of women marched in both El Paso and Las Cruces as part of hundreds of pro-abortion marches all across the country. The march in El Paso was organized by the local Planned Parenthood affiliate in response to the Texas Heartbeat Law.
I found one photo from the event particularly heartbreaking. It featured a baby sitting in the grass with his mother who was holding a sign that said “pro-choice moms.” She wore a vulgar shirt that said “party with sl*ts.” Other photos made it a point to highlight women wearing a crucifix or cross while holding signs supporting the unrestricted and premeditated killing of children in the womb at any time, for any reason.
Several people reached out to us asking if we were planning to counter-protest any of these events, but we were unable to do so because our team was busy actually helping women.
Empowering Women To Choose Life
Recently, a 15-year-old girl facing an unexpected pregnancy went to Santa Teresa for an abortion but encountered our outreach interns and medical ultrasound bus and was empowered to choose life.
When we asked what material assistance she needed, she declined any further help because this heroic young woman wasn’t looking for any handouts. However, she did mention that no one would be throwing her a baby shower because most people she knew would actually shame her for choosing to parent at such a young age.
That’s when our amazing staff started to come up with a plan.
Following this life-changing encounter, this young mom was invited to the home of our Community Engagement Manager, Rebekah. When the mom and her boyfriend walked in, tears came to their eyes, unable to believe how much effort Rebekah had gone through to decorate just for her.
Our team understands that empowering women to choose life often means building community and concrete support. For days, our young Coalition interns took it upon themselves to coordinate gifts. They all contributed out of their own pockets to ensure she had every baby item she could possibly need. The mom and her boyfriend sat opening gifts together in complete awe.
Jessica, our Director of Operations, said, “They were so sweet, but most importantly, they felt so grateful to be in a room filled with so many people who supported them and made them feel good about the choice they made to keep their baby.”
Protesting Through Love
At the shower, they all laughed and fellowshipped together while playing games. Rebekah said, “When they first arrived they felt a bit awkward, but the Holy Spirit was so strong, and by the end, if you walked in, you would think we had all been family forever.”
So while others were marching or protesting to express their opinions that pro-lifers are “shaming and oppressing women,” remember that pro-choicers made a 15-year-old girl feel ashamed to choose parenting. She felt she had NO CHOICE but abortion.
Now, she is forever grateful to those who showed up to pray for her, love her unconditionally, and empower her to rise above her circumstances to become the hero that God created her to be.
Thank you for making that possible.
Devotional for Day 12
Intention: May the King of the Universe, who entered this world as a helpless infant, give us the humility to be healed.
Scripture: “Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you and insult you, and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice and leap for joy on that day! Behold, your reward will be great in heaven. For their ancestors treated the prophets in the same way.” – Luke 6:22
Reflection: We often become upset and angered when I see how the mainstream media bows to the god of this world, and does not present a fair and balanced presentation of the truth behind the abortion industry, especially Planned Parenthood, that pro-lifer’s have been trying to present for the past 48 years! Those in the Pro-Life movement have been called women haters, domestic terrorists, bigots, sensationalists, anti-choice, and worse. Yet, why should this surprise us? If Our Lord Jesus Christ, the perfect, sinless, God-incarnate, was persecuted, hated, tortured, and killed, why should it surprise me that when speaking out and standing up for the truth, that pro-lifers are grossly persecuted? When we stand up for the truth, in love, because it all must be out of love for neighbor, and we am persecuted, or when the truth is easily dismissed, and not allowed to be presented on the same stage as the overwhelming torrent of lies, instead of becoming upset or angry, we should praise God, and rejoice, because Jesus said, “your reward will be great in heaven.”
Prayer: Lord Jesus, if people driving by, or walking by near Missouri Ave or McNutt Rd, in front the “Women’s Reproductive Clinic,” flip obscene gestures at me, or begin angrily yelling at me, help me first of all, not be afraid. Second, help me to realize that this is truly a blessing, and see that gesture as a prayer request, that You are pointing out to me someone that You want me to pray for. Lord, help me to be steadfast and persevere in love, truth, and prayer, no matter when it seems that what I’m doing or saying may not be making any impact whatsoever. You know different. Help me to always trust in you. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
