John,

A young woman departing Planned Parenthood in Washington, D.C. was planning to return later for an abortion.

A sidewalk counselor had tried empowering the mother to choose life--twice--to no avail.

Providentially, the abortion-minded woman was leaving Planned Parenthood just as 40 Days for Life Director of Medical Affairs & Education Dr. Haywood Robinson was arriving to speak to volunteers.

The former abortion provider had a powerful conversation with the young mom, who decided to keep her baby in spite of pressure to abort from her boyfriend.

"I told her I am a former abortionist," Dr. Robinson recalled. "I said I was sorry for performing every abortion I was involved in and encouraged her that she had made the right decision and would have a wonderful, loving relationship with her child."

The expectant mother already had two abortions in the last five years. Thanks be to God, she was spared a third!

"As I walked away, I said, 'I love you,'" Dr. Robinson remembered. "Her eyes brightened ever more, and she said, 'I love you too.'”

Dr. Robinson and 40 Days for Life General Counsel Matt Britton started in Washington and traveled through Virginia. Here's their report from the road.

Falls Church, Virginia

Dr. Robinson and Matt spoke before a large crowd in Falls Church, a crowd that included two abortion facility escorts--even though the abortion center was closed!

"There were three pro-life doctors in attendance," Matt said. "About a third of the people told me that it was their first time out."

The prayers and sacrifices of Falls Church vigil participants bore fruit this week as they helped redirect an abortion client to a local pregnancy help center where she chose life and even picked out a name for her baby!

Newport News, Virginia

Dr. Robinson and Matt joined vigil participants to pray for the closure of a nasty-looking abortion facility in Newport News.

"It's nice to know that women no longer have to go to back alley abortionists," Dr. Robinson quipped upon arriving to town. "Oh wait! That's the alley, isn't it? What a dump!"

Dr. Robinson described the abortion facility in Virginia Beach as "one of the most run-down, dilapidated facilities I've ever seen. It was disgusting."

Richmond, Virginia

Dr. Robinson and Matt visited a Christian bookstore to meet with numerous Richmond-area pastors before heading to the vigil.

"Matt and I spoke to a large crowd," Dr. Robinson reported. "The people were energized, encouraged and eager to continue their 40 Days for Life work. The leader, Ann, is a gem."

But the Lord said, "You have had pity on the plant for which you have not labored, nor made it grow, which came up in the night and perished in the night. And should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred and twenty thousand persons who cannot discern between their right hand and their left, and much livestock? Should I not be concerned about that great city?"

-- Jonah 4:10-11

Gracious God, loving our enemies seems like one of most difficult things you could ask of us. Please remind us that this is how you love and that if you ask it of us then you will give us the grace to do it.

See today's full devotional

For life,

Shawn D. Carney
President/CEO, 40 Days for Life