My First Save at Planned Parenthood

Being a new counselor, I usually don't try to move forward if veteran counselors are on hand, but this particular Tuesday, I was the only one of the counselors standing near as a car pulled into the driveway, two men and one young, attractive but sad looking woman in the rear seat by herself.

I stand every Tuesday with a sign that reads: "I still hurt from my abortions," and each time I hope someone will really think about those words, though how is it possible to know if someone has seen them and decided to just keep driving or not.

This time, I noticed, because the car was moving so slowly, that the woman in the back seat was reading the words, and I noticed at the same time that her face looked so sad, like she was really struggling with her decision.

Within a few minutes, the car parked, and the younger man and the woman started walking to the entrance. I yelled to them, "Please, your baby's heart is beating right now. Please don't kill your baby!" To my surprise, the young man turned to me, not with contempt as they sometimes do, but with what seemed like a sincere explanation.

He said, "I already have two." (I did notice he left her out of it with his "I.") I responded clumsily with, "But this is a different baby, and this one's heart is beating, too. Please!"


They walked into the clinic. About five minutes later, maybe less, they came out together, got into the car, and started back out the driveway. As they passed, the older driver had his window down a bit, so again I clumsily approached and held out a packet of literature, hopefully to guide them to the crisis pregnancy center explained on a little pamphlet inside. At first, the older man just looked at me, but then I repeated, "It's just some resources to help." This time, he took it, and they were gone from that horrible place.

I was struck with the realization that you never know when something like that is going to happen, but after months and months of seemingly doing no apparent good, a "save" comes along, and it makes all the difference. That must be why one woman has continued to be a sidewalk counselor for fourteen years straight now!

I immediately thought also of a priest hearing the confession of a person in mortal sin. That must be how he feels when he has a "save" from mortal sin.

Blessed be God forever!