“People notice the work you are doing.”

Day 27

As clouds, wind and the threat of rain seemed to be the norm of the day praying at Planned Parenthood, today was just a “normal day.” Intent on praying our rosaries, Don, my prayer partner, and I didn’t pay attention to the noisy car rolling past until it suddenly made a U-turn and parked on the shoulder of the road across Georgetown Road. The flashers came on and the female driver jumped out hurriedly and ran to the opposite side of the car.

Don asked, “wonder what this is?” Not wanting to read too much into it, I replied that maybe she had car trouble. She busied herself in the backseat and then it became apparent that she was removing a child from his car seat. As they sprinted across the road, one could notice she was dressed rather oddly. Don stated that if she was coming to pray, she was underdressed for the type of day it was. I replied that I would have to give her my coat. I’m not sure how to describe the way she was dressed. It reminded me of how a damsel or a “lady in waiting” would be dressed a long time ago.

Standing in front of me, she didn’t say anything for a long time. I couldn’t help but wonder why she had a tiara on her head. I felt very tall and at 5’7”, I towered over her. Don and I casted glances at each other wondering what to make of this when I figured I’d better make the first move. But before I had the chance, she, while panting and out of breath, proceeded to introduce herself and her nine year old son, Shawn whom she introduced as “the light of my life.”

She was very, very excited and it was somewhat difficult to keep up with her. She talked very urgently and I don’t recall what she was rattling on about. I must confess and I am a bit ashamed to admit that I didn’t have an initial favorable impression of her and I even thought that maybe she was high on something. As it turns out, she was “high” on life. Did I mention that she was dressed very oddly and wore a tiara on her head and that she talked very, very fast?

There was a bit of a lull in the conversation when she suddenly blurted out, “he was supposed to be aborted.” She was referring to her son Shawn who wasn’t listening. He was busy being rambunctious and munching on a caramel apple. She went on to say she stopped by to “tell everyone here that you’re making a difference.” I was caught completely off guard by her initial statement, so it took just a while for her words to sink in. She must have read the “deer caught in the headlights” look on my face because she said, “yeah, I was going to have an abortion but someone, I don’t even know who it was, called me before the appointed time and told me they knew what I was planning and told me all these reasons why I shouldn’t go through with it.” She further explained, “I figured that was the voice of God! Who would call me like that, someone I didn’t even know? So there was no way I was going through with the abortion.” My only comment was a very sincere “Praise God!” and as she continued to talk, I kept repeating it. I felt the urge to give her a hug too.

She told us another story that she had an older son, the result of rape, and that she had him adopted and is now with a “nice, Christian family.” She continued to praise everyone for our efforts and told us that we should know “people notice the work you are doing.” She also wanted information on crisis pregnancy to give to a friend who is interested in starting that mission in the town where she is from, near Illinois. Giving her all the pamphlets and links that might be of use to that end, we thanked her for taking the time to tell us her very heart warming story, her words of encouragement, and brightening what was until then, a very gloomy afternoon….she left as she came, running with Shawn in tow and Don and I saying, Wow!

So take heart fellow prayer angels; people do notice us out there!

Oh, as for the odd way she was dressed… she was returning home from the Renaissance Fair…that explained a lot!

Jerry Mattingly
Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary