Pro-Life

And a Little Child Shall Lead Them

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Nancy Pruett, Director
Sav-a-Life of Tupelo, Mississippi
December 4, 2001

The following is a true story. The names have been changed to protect a fragile work of healing still in progress. One day she will write this story for herself.

It had taken all the courage she could muster just to get this far. But as the moments dragged on, panic began to set in. “Why did I come here?” she thought.

For Margaret, Wednesday evenings had become very predictable. They were always spent in her favorite bar where the pain was lessened to a dull throb, at least for a few hours. The memories were dulled and her feelings of self-hatred were not quite as sharp as the alcohol numbed her senses.

It had been five years, but the pain of the abortion had not lessened. In fact, it had intensified as her walls of denial had begun to crumble. For a while she was able to actually believe it had never happened. She told herself she had only gone to the doctor for an ob/gyn exam. The truth was unthinkable. She hadn’t really wanted the abortion in the first place. It just seemed to be the only way to cope with an unplanned pregnancy in the midst of a family crisis. Her parents had enough problems at the time without adding her burdens to them.

With the abortion she had ended the life of her only child and lost the only man she had ever loved. Depression and loneliness were now her closest companions.

But lately she had been aware of the desire to change. She wanted to get back in church and straighten her life out. But as she sat there in the fellowship hall that evening she felt more alone than ever. No one had spoken to her or even seemed to notice she was there. As the walls closed in around her she thought, “That’s it, I’m leaving. This was a big mistake. I’m going to the bar where at least there are familiar faces and people like me are welcomed.”

She was about to get up when a little girl approached her. She appeared to be about 5 years old and not the least bit shy. She took Margaret’s hand and said, “Hi. My name is Anna. May I sit with you? My parents haven’t come in yet.” Margaret looked into those big brown eyes and saw a gentleness and warmth that melted her heart and calmed her spirit. “Of course,” she replied.

Anna sat down and began to talk to Margaret as they enjoyed their meal together. Her openness and her interest in this adult stranger drew Margaret like a magnet. Before the meal had ended, a strong bond had formed between the two.

When Anna’s parents arrived, they too welcomed this lovely wounded young woman into the fold and into their family.

That was five years ago. Anna’s family has since moved to another state, but she and Margaret still stay in touch. Margaret goes to visit whenever she can and they still talk by phone often.

Anna still has the first gift Margaret ever gave her – a small key chain with a cow that moos. She had her parents place it in their safety deposit box for safekeeping.

She remembers every visit, every cookie baked, every bottle of fingernail polish, every late night trip to Wal-Mart for junk food, every movie rented.

That is helpful to Margaret, whose recurring bouts with depression have left her memory fragmented. It speaks to her heart of a child who cherishes everything about her and every moment they spend together. It also speaks to her of another child who would be about Anna’s age if she had lived; a child who lives in a kingdom not of this world awaiting the day when she and her Mommie will finally meet. Until then, Margaret has Anna, and Anna has Margaret.

Who knows where Margaret would be today if she had fled the church that evening. The important thing is that she didn’t. It took the loving innocence of a bold little girl to keep her there, proving once again how much we adults have to learn from the little ones.

Unknowingly, Anna saved Margaret’s life that night by responding to God’s prompting to reach out and take the hand of a stranger. Today Margaret is in a Post Abortion Bible Study at Sav-a-Life where she is making peace with her past. How often do we miss those life changing opportunities because our spiritual eyes are closed to the needs around us?

Over two thousand years ago a child was sent into a world of fearful, needy, lonely people, isolated from God and wounded by sin. “For unto us a child is born, a son is given.”(Isa 9:6) He spotted you from across the universe and reached out His hand. “May I sit and eat with you?” he asked. “Behold , I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him and he with Me.” (Rev. 3:20)

Look into His eyes. There is a love there that will melt your heart. He cherishes everything about you and every moment you spend together. He will never leave you, never forget you. He is crazy about you! The first gift you give Him – your trust – will be locked in a safe place by His Father until the day you are ushered into the place He has prepared for you. “For I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He will keep what I have entrusted to Him until that day.” (2 Tim 1:12)

So don’t run away to the familiar, spirit-numbing alternatives of self-destruction the world has to offer. The unconditional love of a child born at Christmas will heal your heart and save your soul. His Father is waiting to welcome you into the fold and into the family. You have a lifetime of memories to make and an eternity to share.

All you have to lose are the things which are destroying you. A new life can begin the moment you take His hand. A bond that can never be broken will be formed in that instant. “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39)

Oh, and by the way, did I mention that you don’t have to earn it? In fact, you can’t earn it. Just as the name Anna means “grace” (or unearned favor) and her love was a gift freely offered, the love of God is freely offered as well. It was given in the form of His only Son who freely died in your place so you could live forever in His presence.

So Merry Christmas my friend! Untie the bow and tear off the paper. God’s gifts to you are His love and His presence forever. They are being delivered by His Son. May the two of you have an awesome journey through life! And keep your eyes open for a stranger who looks like they could use a companion at the dinner table.