Keep Praying

Day 24

It’s Friday at 11am. I found myself running a little late. I was still trying to get my 16 month old of the car seat; with his new winter coat this was a little harder. Once I had my son out of the car, I carefully walked across the street. I stopped and talked with the sidewalk counselors. They told me the great news that yesterday three women chose life. This lifted my spirits on this bitterly cold day.

As a greeter and member of the core team, I greeted the prayer partners that were with me for this hour. Once I got settled in I started my rosary. Since I was carrying my son, who is heavier with his new winter jacket, I couldn’t carry my rosary. I found myself getting extremely distracted. The coldness and the extra weight were weighing me down. I decided that it might be too cold for my son to stay the full hour and since my hour usually has more than two people I knew it was okay. So, I decided I would leave after the half hour prayer time.

Since I couldn’t pray my rosary, I decided to just try talking to God and asking him to protect the women that went in for an abortion, their unborn babies and for the conversion of all those who worked inside those treacherous walls.

After praying at this abortion facility for almost four years, I know what usually happens. Today the police officer who was here because it was a killing day left before his usual time. This is not normal because they usually stay until the last woman has come for her abortion appointment.

Then a sheriff car pulled into the parking lot. I thought all of this was strange. After about five minutes the police officer pulled forward like he was going to leave, but he didn’t. He got out of his car and started walking towards me. I was shocked. In my head I was wondering how he knew I was the greeter.

He came to me not because I was the greeter but because he had received a complaint about a woman with a small child who had been outside of the abortion facility for the last 2 to 3 hours. I told the officer I had only been there since 11am. He smiled warmly and asked if I was okay, I replied yes. Then he asked if my son was okay, and I replied yes. He said he had to come out because of the complaint. He smiled again and told me to have a good day. Then he walked to his car and left.

A few minutes later, the first police officer came back.

This incident is perplexing to me. I am thankful that someone is worried enough about the health of my son to call the police. I only wish this same person, or persons, had the same compassion about the hundreds of babies that are being KILLED inside those treacherous walls. What a contradiction!

I also find it interesting that they would resort to lying by telling the police officer I was out there for several hours. I wonder why they feel the need to lie.

However, this situation did not distract me from what I was supposed to do. After I told my prayer partners what the officer talked to me about, I led them in the 40 Days for Life Prayer that we wrote for our prayer campaign.

Please don’t let any distractions keep you from what you are called to do from the Lord. Keep praying! Keep coming out!

Dear Lord, help me to open my heart to you during these 40 days of prayer and fasting for the end of abortion in our world. Help me to inspire those in my community to stand against this evil we are facing. Be in the hearts, minds, and words of all those who are participating in the 40 Days for Life Campaign. We ask you to protect the unborn, heal those affected by abortion, and convert the hearts of those supporting abortion. We ask all of this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Elaine Alvarez
St. Luke Catholic Church