I’m smiling with my great granddaughter.  Because God makes good.  Lots of good. Been thinking a friend, a beautiful lady named Christine.  We met through a mutual friend, another beautiful lady named Karen.  Karen started the 40 days for Life Campaign in Peoria, Illinois.  She started it with about 10 helpers, a monumental task considering it is supposed to have people on board for 24/7 for 40 days.

I met Karen when I went to pray outside an abortion clinic.  I was there to pray for the women and their babies.  I prayed for the dads, too.  And the grandparents and friends who dropped off or brought women into the clinic.  I prayed because I’m not sure they received all the information they needed before making the decision to go to this clinic.  You see, one person wasn’t going to come out of the clinic that was brought in.  In fact, some days 30+ people would never come out of the clinic; that is, alive.  And many more who entered would not come out in the same condition they went in.  They would be changed.  I know this, personally.

Karen knew and believed in her heart without a doubt that God had a plan for every human being.  She was there, and organized the event, because she felt she had been asked to do this.  I remember her grasping my arm, saying, “Cathy, I can’t do this.  I’m weak.  I’m no one.  I have a high raspy voice and no one is going to listen to me.”  She said she told God she couldn’t do it.  But Karen couldn’t get off her mind that He wasn’t giving her an option.  I told her I was weak too.  It took me forever to get to that sidewalk… 30+ years to accept forgiveness for what changed me in me so long ago when I walked into a similar place as a young girl.  He was asking a lot from me too, just being there.  I told her God doesn’t give up so she shouldn’t either.  Together we would plan and pray for Him to show us how it would happen.  And the 40 days campaign did.  I believe we’ve done it five years in a row now.

At some point I met Christine.  Christine prayed with me one Thursday.  Before we left she turned and said to me, “You see that restaurant right there next to the clinic?  Either that spot or something close by, that will be the place in the future for a Women’s Care Center.”  I looked at her like, okay, right.  It was an operating restaurant.  I couldn’t imagine how she thought it could happen: 1) buy the property? 2) get them out? and 3) be able to open such a place right next to this clinic?  Seemed like a ridiculous comment.  I think she could see my doubt and she added:

“Our Lady told me it was going to happen, and that I had to be patient, pray and sacrifice.  Oh it will happen, I have no doubt.”

Fast forward to 2013.  I just received the video with the opening date of the Women’s Care Center, right next to the clinic, in the same spot the restaurant used to be.  Doesn’t look like a restaurant any more.  Major donors came forward and purchased the restaurant, paid for the remodeling and a large fundraiser both equipped and staffed the Center, at least for this year.

May 16, 2013 the doors to the center opened.  All I can say is Praise be to God.  Whether the women come in before they go into the abortion clinic or after, Karen and Christine

and others like them will open their hearts and reach out to the suffering heart of Christ found in these women and men.  They will touch the heart that is full of confusion, turmoil, fear, guilt, hopelessness and despair, and they will offer support, answers, calmness, peace, hope and alternatives that support and embrace life.

Thank you for your perseverance ladies.  Well done, good and faithful servants.  Hugs and kisses my fine friends.  I am blessed by your friendship.

Update 2020:  The Care Center thrives in helping women and the abortion clinic closed  Praise be to God.