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Today's email update:

One of the questions we hear often is, "Why do we
need to pray at the abortion clinic when it's
closed?" There are several answers, but the part I'll
focus on today is this ...

... You never know what God has in store!

Brian was praying at the 40 Days for Life vigil in
Hackensack, New Jersey around 6 one morning -- before
the abortion facility opened. A couple got out of a
taxi and walked towards the building and waited.

Brian spoke to them, and they were still waiting when
he had to leave. A short time later, a group of
friars arrived to pray. The clinic was still locked
tight. The couple, however, had left. Brian hopes
they called another cab and simply went back home.

To see some of the faithful people praying at the
abortion center in Hackensack, including some of the
friars who are frequently present at the vigil,
please visit:

http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=349

Beth in Phoenix knows of babies saved from abortion
because people were praying at the 40 Days for Life
vigil while the clinic was closed.

Women often arrive at the abortion facility without
realizing it is not open every day. Beth said that's
why it is important to be there praying every day of
the 40 Days for Life campaign –- including the times
the center is closed.

Christine and three friends were praying at the
vigil, and the place was deserted. After a while,
they noticed that two young women had arrived. They
tried to open the clinic door, and it was locked.

The women went back to their car and sat for about
five minutes. Christine walked over and handed them a
flyer with information about pregnancy resource
centers. "They were very grateful," she said.

Beth and James spent time praying at Planned
Parenthood in Phoenix when the facility was closed.
"We were the only ones there," said James, "just
praying quietly by ourselves."

Two teenage girls walked by, and James asked if they
knew the building was an abortion center. But they
just kept walking. A few minutes later, however, the
girls came back.

"One of them started by asking us if we were going to
adopt and raise the babies we were trying to save
from abortion, and saying how awful the foster care
system is for kids," he said. "It was clear they came
back just to challenge us."

Right about that time, a man walked up and offered
cold drinks to Beth and James (this is Phoenix, and
it's still very hot there). The man had heard the
conversation, and began to tell the girls that he had
been born in a home for unwed mothers and was
adopted. That opened the way for further discussion,
and this time the girls were all ears.

"These two girls listened to everything we, and the
gentleman, had to say," said James. "They said they
respected us and what we were doing and believed; you
could see their whole outlook had changed."

As the girls walked away, James and Beth "knew why
the Lord had brought us out there at that time, on a
day when there was no real compelling reason to be
there, except for obedience; for two girls to whom we
could have easily not reached out, except for a
still, small voice."

Day 18 - October 10

Intention:

We pray for a flowering of the joy of parenthood.

Scripture:

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; they shall not be ashamed, but shall speak with their enemies in the gate.

-- Psalm 127:3-5

Reflection:

I still vividly remember the day my first child was born. As she came into the world I gazed upon the most beautiful little baby I'd ever seen. Later I was driving home from the hospital for a shower and a fresh change of clothes when a song came on the radio, "The Men in My Little Girl's Life" -- a ballad about being a father as he watches his daughter grow through childhood to womanhood. I wept as I listened, knowing those years would go by very fast… and they did.

Being a father, whenever I read the Psalm quoted above I'm always captivated by one word - "heritage." It basically means "something passed down from a preceding generation." That little girl I watched being born and wept for is not mine to give to God like a product of our fertility, but rather His, which he has entrusted to us. So are all her siblings.

My wife and I share a great treasure: precious lives, which are placed in our lineage that His life with us might be perpetuated. To the psalmist, this was a blessing from the Lawgiver, God Himself, who blessed Israel with another generation intended to continue their covenantal promise. For us in Christ, it is his gift of succeeding generations for His Church and her families.

These days I'm looking upon my grandchildren, and rejoicing that my children and their spouses will pass on the greatness of Christ's gospel to them and thus will continue the work of God in the world. What a blessing. What a heritage!

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, please keep me from taking for granted the gift of children. Help us to remember this heritage that you have given us. Make us faithful stewards of these precious lives, that each generation might be raised in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Randolph Sly
National Pro-life Religious Council