I am trying to discern whether I am called to be a side walk counselor at an abortion mill. I have been going to this mill for 1-1/2 years praying weekly for the mothers and their children. My question: I think it’s important to understand what motivate me to do this. I worry that it some vain desire to “do the right thing”, a lack of humility on my part, a desire to say “see what I am doing”. Is that the devil taking away my joy?
As a prayer warrior or sidewalk helper, God will give you the strength to do this if it is His Will.
You may not really be able to pin point what motivates you. Trust God that if He is calling you, He will give you the courage and humility to serve others in this way.
Pray to hear God’s plan for yourself.
You will see it is not you speaking, but God using your voice, your smile, your love to reach out to these women. Afterwards, you may not even remember what all you said to the mothers and their friends.
Have a prayer warrior with you when you are serving as a sidewalk helper. Some days you may find yourself alone, ask the Saints to pray with you while you speak to the mothers.
If possible get training as a helper. Check with the Respect Life Office of your Diocese for training. Contact Helpers of God’s Precious Infants to see if there is someone offering training in your area.
In our diocese we use the name “sidewalk helpers”, as the word “counselor” might express specific training as an actual counselor.
You probably are already familiar with this since you have been a prayer warrior for so long.
Helpers of God’s Precious Infant - Msgr. Reilly
helpersbrooklynny.org/mpr.htm
helpersny.org/
Here is Msgr. Reilly’s beautiful prayer book that you can print to use when praying at the abortion center. Maybe you can use it during Lent as part of your prayer for discernment.
archindy.org/prolife/documents/HGPI.pdf
The devil is always happy to keep good people down. He especially is happy with the deception abortion has over people. He would like to keep prayer warriors and sidewalk helpers away.
I don’t know if the devil is discouraging you. (We sometimes give him more credit than he deserves.)
I’m not sure “joy” is the word you will feel when serving as a sidewalk helper. You will be there witnessing sorrow, as you already know from your prayer time there. You will be there as the face and voice of God’s love to a mother on the saddest day of her life. You may represent something the mother does not want to face and she may place all her anger on you. Still show her love.
Feed yourself with prayer as you go out to battle at the site of this evil.
Thank you for being there in prayer at the time of these babies death. You may be the only one praying for them at the hour of their death. Thank you for being there for the mothers. Even though they may despise you and say ugly things to you, you may be the only one praying for them. Your smile may come back to them later, and they may feel a peace and begin to walk towards healing.
You are a blessing to those in pain and those sweet babies who are saved and the ones who still lose their lives.
Know that many people pray daily for those who are serving on the front line of this battle with evil. That means those prayers are for you, as well.
May God bless you richly and give you strength. May those who see your face and hear your voice, feel God’s love and hear His voice. May they have the courage to choose Life for their baby. May those who abort their precious children, repent and begin to heal as they leave the horrors of the abortion mill.
Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Unborn ~ Pray for us.
