From 40 Days For Life: DAY 12: Planned Parenthood: They are abortion

A huge office building along Gulf Freeway in Houston, Texas is the home of the largest abortion center in the Western Hemisphere. It is a Planned Parenthood location ... and it reflects their priorities well. Its sheer size and daily abortion numbers demonstrate that Planned Parenthood equals abortion. But believe it or not, people are still caught by surprise when they're told abortions happen there. Who doesn't know that Planned Parenthood is the largest abortion operation in America doing more than 300,000 abortions every year? Who is unaware that they export abortion around the globe? Well, many people -- even some of their clients.

Houston, Texas Just this past week, a volunteer talked to a couple on their way into Houston's Planned Parenthood abortion mega-center … telling them exactly what goes on inside. They both looked shocked. "This is an abortion facility?" the driver asked in amazement. With that, they turned the car around and went to the Houston Coalition for Life's mobile resource center, which is parked right across from Planned Parenthood, for a free pregnancy test and ultrasound. The driver said, "Thank you for what you are doing out here!" At every abortion location where 40 Days for Life vigils are held, it's the same story. Your physical presence may be the first indication your neighbors have ever seen that abortions really do happen in your town. So if you haven't been to pray at a 40 Days for Life vigil yet … we have four weeks to go!

Sacramento, California It's often the simple conversations on the sidewalk that help make 40 Days for Life special. A team member watched as a woman got out of a shiny car and walked into the spa that's near the abortion facility in Sacramento. About an hour later, she came back out. "I leaned around the bush, mustered up my best smile and asked if I could give her some information," the volunteer said. "She looked up and smiled and said, 'What's it about?'" She was told that it was information for women who are pregnant and in need of help. The woman gave a knowing nod and said, "I totally understand where you're coming from. I am pro-life all the way." She then told a story about her sister, who has a physically-abusive boyfriend. They have a 7-year-old child … and just found out that she is pregnant. "Her boyfriend said that he would beat her if she didn't go and get an abortion," the woman said. "So she called me and I went over and packed up her stuff and her son ... and they are now living with me. There is no way that we would abort that baby." The woman then thanked the 40 Days for Life volunteers for being there and supporting life. And we thank her for supporting life as well -- on a direct, personal level.

My power is made perfect in weakness. —2 Corinthians 12:9 Lord, during these forty days, we ask that with each day of this sacred vigil, everything in us that separates us from your perfect will would be pruned from our hearts and souls. In this blessed freedom may we experience a powerful anointing of your Holy Spirit. See today's full devotional

For life,

Shawn D. Carney President, 40 Days for Life

40 Days for Life 4112 E 29th St. Bryan, Texas 77802 United States (888) LIFE-316