Replies

Much attention in a 40 Days for Life campaign is on
the mother and her unborn child — and saving the life
of the baby scheduled to be aborted.

But each of those children also has a father — someone
who is legally in no man’s land. He has no rights —
and often no influence.

Steve, the 40 Days for Life coordinator in Glendale,
California, tells the story of one such man — a guy
he refers to as “Bill.”

GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA

“Our ‘Women DO Regret Abortion’ and ‘Men Regret Lost
Fatherhood’ signs were out as we prayed for all those
affected by abortion,” Steve said, as Bill — a man
in his early 40s — walked by, pushing a young girl
in a stroller.

“What you do here — does it work?” he asked. “Yes,”
Steve responded. “We pray for the women, the babies
and the abortion workers and sometimes they change
their minds.”

“My wife, she had an abortion here last Friday,”
Bill said.

Steve was a bit stunned. “I am so sorry for your
loss,” he said. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m okay,” Bill said. “I just don’t understand.
Why did she do it?”

His wife was having problems with morning sickness, but
Bill kept telling her in a couple more weeks it would
be okay. “Now, my wife is sad and says that she regrets
that she did it.”

Steve and another man encouraged Bill to seek post-
abortive counseling for him, his wife and perhaps
marriage counseling together.

“We provided him contact information to several local
organizations that would help him start the healing
process and to deal with all the emotions he now had
and that he would have as the shock wore off and the
realization set in that he and his entire family would
have to deal with something that has forever changed
his family.”

“Could God forgive us of this?” Bill asked tentatively.

“Yes, he can!” Steve answered. “There is no sin God
cannot forgive.”

In reflecting on this conversation, Steve said, “I am
routinely amazed by how God uses the 40 Days for Life
ministry as a means for healing to all those affected
by the horror of abortion.”

Still, he said, “I can only imagine that path that
Bill will travel now; asking for an answer to ‘Why did
she do it?’ when there is no answer. How does he deal
with his wife’s actions, coupled with her regret, while
processing his own grief and loss?

“How does he deal with the fact that his wife’s family
was counseling her to get the abortion against her
husband’s wishes? How does he someday tell his beautiful
daughter that she was going to have a little brother or
sister, but her mommy decided to get an abortion and by
law, he couldn’t stop her?”

Steve knows there are no human answers. “I do know
where Bill can find the answers,” he said, “and they
are in Christ Jesus, the great redeemer and healer of
our souls. He is the only one that can help Bill
forgive himself, his wife, his family and cause
healing to occur.”

Steve said he is “left with the resolve that there
is so much more work to be done to end the horror of
abortion. To you, my brothers and sisters in Christ,
I call on you to join me as an active participant on
the front lines ... we need you!”

There is still time for action. Find a 40 Days for
Life location near you at:

http://40daysforlife.com/location

... and get involved!

Day 34 - March 26

Intention:

We pray for the conversion of abortionists and all abortion advocates.

Scripture:

"Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil, Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor; Defend the fatherless, Plead for the widow."

-- Isaiah 1:16-17

Reflection:

God is just.

Inscribed around the inside of the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, DC, are the immortal words of Thomas Jefferson: "I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just." If the deist, Jefferson, knew in the depths of his being that God is just, how much more ought we Christians to reflect on this profound truth? The justice of God, like his holiness and his purity, encourages us to seek justice for all people. It is the evil deeds and wrong, selfish attitudes of our modern society that have led to the cavalier acceptance of abortion and euthanasia. But, as Jefferson also said, "his justice will not sleep forever."

God is calling us today to seek justice, to encourage the oppressed, and to defend the orphans and widows of our society. It is a noble calling! It is one which every true believer, every God-fearing man and woman, should heed with no hesitation and no reluctance. To follow the God of justice and truth is to stand unequivocally for the right to life of everyone, especially the unborn, the physically disabled, and the terminally ill. God's word through the prophet Isaiah is as relevant in today's 21st century world as it was in Isaiah's 8th century BC world. May God's grace help us to defend the unborn's right to life as well as that of the already born.

Prayer:

O God, our heavenly Father, give us courage and wisdom as we seek to eradicate the evil in our society. Help us to realize that your divine Spirit alone can change hearts and minds so that all your human creatures may enjoy the fullness of life you intended for them. I pray this prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. Amen.

Rev. Ben Sheldon
President Emeritus, Presbyterians Pro-life and National Pro-life Religious Council