John,

On a beautiful autumn day in Colorado Springs, a dad joyfully tossed his little boy in the air and caught him. A picture-perfect scene.

There's just one problem with the story: it took place in a Planned Parenthood parking lot.

While the man played with his son, his wife was inside getting information on aborting the little boy's brother or sister.

The dad is struggling to provide for his family and just couldn't see welcoming another child.

Sidewalk volunteers gave the couple information about the local pregnancy help center, where they could get the support needed to choose life.

"The sidewalk advocate poured her heart out and begged them not to have this abortion," said Michele, the leader in Colorado Springs. "She brought up the love they have for their son. How could they abort their other child?"

The couple admitted to believing in God and did stop to pray with vigil participants. But as they left Planned Parenthood, they were still planning to go through with the abortion.

The sidewalk volunteer knelt down and cried.

"Please pray, fast, offer up sacrifices, and offer up acts of mercy," Michele said. "Jesus, we trust in You!"

Nashville, Tennessee

A father brought his pregnant daughter to Planned Parenthood in Nashville.

They stopped to speak with a sidewalk counselor named Marilyn--and accepted pregnancy help center information. But ultimately, they kept their appointment.

Ten minutes later, however, they left!

As they pulled out of the Planned Parenthood parking lot, the father held up the pregnancy help center pamphlet to show the volunteers.

"We are continuing to pray for them!" said Kathleen, the local leader. "Praise God for this turnaround!"

Hagerstown, Maryland

Abortion is an ugly industry. Some facilities whitewash over the heartbreak and human carnage...

...some don't even bother.

"If you guys ever do a grossest clinic competition, we want to be entered," wrote Jeff in Maryland. "Hagerstown is rough."

Especially if you're an expectant mother or an unborn child.

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; they shall not be ashamed, but shall speak with their enemies in the gate.

—Psalm 127:3-5

Heavenly Father, please keep me from taking for granted the gift of children. Help us to remember this heritage that you have given us. Make us faithful stewards of these precious lives, that each generation might be raised in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

See today's full devotional

For life,

Shawn Carney
President/CEO, 40 Days for Life