This is a story about a young Indian couple who came to Northpark. It was one of the first times I had been there. Fortunately our real veteran, Jackie, was there to guide the process. She saw this couple drive down the wrong driveway. She said “Michael, get over there, they are trying to find the abortion center”. I ran over to the other driveway and waited for them to turn around. They drove back up the driveway and rolled down their window. I leaned down on the passenger side, where the mom was sitting, and ask them if I could help. The mom never looked up. She had a look of fear and shame. Her husband, lets call him "A", said they were looking for the clinic. I asked why they needed the clinic. He said what do you mean? I said, directly to his wife, are you pregnant. She did not answer. "A" did and said she was pregnant. I said, “How wonderful, you must be very excited”. He looked at me strangely and said, “I am, but the timing is bad”. I said, “Why is the timing bad”? He said we are in school and the timing is not good. I again asked, why is the timing bad, do you need money? They said no. “Do you need an apartment or a place to live”? He said no.

I asked again, “why is it bad timing”? "A" finally said, “I want this baby, but my wife does not”. I said “have you prayed about this together”? "A" said they had not. I said “that is the real problem, you are trying to handle this on your own”. "A" said, “Yes I believe this is true”.

I asked if we could pray right now for peace of mind and for the healthy and well being of the mom. "A" said yes. Since I was leaning in the window on the mom’s side I took her hand and began to pray. “Sweet Jesus, please protect the health and well being of this beautiful mom and her child. Please give "A" the strength to be the father that you have called him to be. In the name of Jesus please bind up any confusion about this decision and help "A" and his wife, the mother of this beautiful baby, make the right decision, in Jesus name”.

I said to "A", you need to be the man and realize that a woman may say “we cannot handle this right now”. What she is saying is "'A', I am not sure you are strong enough to take care of us”. "A", can you be the man and do what you are supposed to do? If someone were to do harm to your wife, would you stand by and let them harm her, or would you do, as I am sure you would, stand in the door of your home and give your life for your wife? "A" said, “of course I would protect her”.

I said, “Then you must protect her now, and protect your child in her. When God gives you a child, you cannot second guess HIS wisdom. You cannot toss out the precious gift God has given you. How do you know this is not the only child God will give you. Do you know how many marriages fall apart from the trauma such as this? Do you really think you will be able to look at your wife again in the same way, or she to you, knowing the life of your child was taken for convenience or bad timing?"

"Will you take five minutes and go someplace quiet and pray with your wife alone. Take her from this evil place." He left. A few minutes later he returned. He drove in. Jackie and I nearly fainted. We prayed out loud for Jesus and HIS mom to come rescue this child and claim this mom. A moment later they drove out and stopped. "A" rolled down his window and said “we are going to keep our baby. I can handle this”. We praised him for being the man God called him to be. We reassured him how pleased God will be with this beautiful act of unselfishness. We again offered help, but he said they did not need it. I gave him my own business card and cell number, and they left. Praise God! If Jackie had not realized they were a couple searching for the Abortion Mill we would not have had this opportunity. Praise God for Jackie's wisdom.

submitted by Michael Rankin
January 26, 2006

Labels: Sidewalk Counseling stories

On January 21, 2006 the Catholic Pro-Life Committee along with many other local pro-life, pro-family groups, sponsored the first ever Dallas Rally and March for Life. The Rally and March took place at the Cathedral de Guadalupe in downtown Dallas and was held immediately after the 13th Annual Bishop's Mass with Dallas Bishop Charles Grahmann and diocesan clergy.

Click here for photos of all the events of that day . . .

Submitted by Andrew Smith
January 21, 2006

Jane (Catholic Pro-Life Committee Sidewalk Counselor) spoke at length with a mother & daughter as they were parking their car at Routh St. The daughter was about 25. The mother claimed they were devout Catholics but that they had to have the abortion, as much as they did not want to do it, because her daughter's life was at stake. She had infections that the doctors had been unable to get rid of for 1.5 years, and she had immunity issues. The doctors told them the pregnancy would be life-threatening. The daughter has other children and is in a wheelchair due to an auto accident. We had little hope, but we prayed the ten Memorare's.

After I left, around 11:30, they came out and told Jane, who was waiting for Mass, that "I'm not going to do it". Jane took them to the White Rose. When Jane came out of Mass, she met them as they were leaving. The daughter was overheard saying to her mother, "see, it looked just like this" pointing to our literature. She was referring to the sonogram image that she had insisted on seeing at Routh Street (they weren't going to show it to her). They were very happy and asked for Jane's phone number and said she would be called upon to baby-sit.

submitted by Roberta
January 15, 2006

Labels: Sidewalk Counseling stories