John,

Every abortion leaves behind a devastating trail of heartache and destruction.

A baby's life is lost. A mother is scarred and a father wounded. Four grandparents will never hold their grandbaby. Countless aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and surviving and future siblings are all impacted.

A young woman tearfully approached a Toronto 40 Days for Life volunteer named Wendy to say "thank you" for standing vigil. "She was carrying a deep grief because her mom decided to terminate the pregnancy of her brother," said Daiana, the local leader.

Wendy consoled the mourning woman and promised to keep her in prayer.

For all the rhetoric claiming that the right to abortion is an extension of a woman's right to privacy, there is nothing private about killing a member of the human family--especially when so many other lives are touched by the decision.

Daiana, Wendy, and the Toronto campaign team want to educate their community on the trauma of losing siblings and cousins to abortion.

"We think this is a beautiful idea, as they carry the heavy burden of grief too."

This weekend is a great time to help save a family from the pain of abortion. Sign up to pray at:

40daysforlife.com/location

Orange, California

A woman visited Planned Parenthood in Orange for a pregnancy test.

It came back positive, and the expectant mother left the abortion facility in shock after Planned Parenthood staffers immediately offered her abortion pills.

Vigil participants gave the mom information on abortion pill reversal...but fortunately, the woman replied, "Oh, I won't need that!"

The prayer warriors suggested that she might have friends who would benefit from knowing about abortion pill reversal. The woman readily agreed and gladly took the information.

Culiacán, Mexico

Vigil participants in Culiacán stand vigil in front of a hospital that does abortions.

But campaign leader Gabriela said that numerous hospital staff members are siding with 40 Days for Life.

"[A high-ranking employee] of the women's hospital introduced himself and told us we could count on him," volunteers noted. "Nurses and doctors from the hospital came up to congratulate us on what we are doing."

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

--Galatians 6:9

God, we can’t decrease the number of abortions in a transformative way without You working behind the scenes to change the human heart. Please strengthen Your churches and parishes to lead with love and compassion. Please strengthen our pastors and priests to lead with grace and courage, and please strengthen me today. Lord, please help me trust in Your sovereign purposes and plant seeds that lead to discipleship. Please give me a profound knowledge that I can’t control the results, nor do I have the key to anyone's heart. Only You do.

See today's full devotional

For life,

Shawn Carney
President/CEO, 40 Days for Life