Help those who are here
This morning, I took my son to McDonalds for breakfast. I know - not the healthiest start, but we don’t do it very often. I couldn’t help but notice a woman sitting there with a cup of water. Her clothes didn’t fit well … but I wasn’t sure if she was just having a bad morning or if she was homeless and hungry.
I hate to say it, but I had to debate for a while about offering just to give her some money. As I walked over to give her $5, I noticed she was wearing men’s boots but no socks. Just said, “hey, you look like you could use a cup of coffee or something.” So simple to do. She thanked me several times. Which just made me feel worse. How hard was that? Why is it so hard for people like her to get help? You can help by donating to the Food Bank. Or the Committee to Aid Abused Women.
Then off to work …. catching up on e-mail. I’ve gotten about 10 updates from the 40 days for life vigil. (They pray outside abortion clinics during Lent - and I greatly appreciate their Statement of Peace.) Today’s update was “don’t you have something better to do?” (The feedback they get from some people in the community.) And I thought of the woman I talked to this morning. Yes, there is plenty to do. Right here. Right now.
Many, many women decide to have abortions because they want to be good mothers, and know they aren’t capable of doing that now. Or because they are doing all they can to take care of the kids they have now, and know that one more will plunge their whole family into poverty. There are lots of reasons women have abortions.
Here’s my wish: let’s all work together to end unintended pregnancies. And, let’s all work together to help women take care of the families they do have.
