©2020 Victor R. Claveau, MJ
Once upon a time, a woman came in to my Catholic Bookstore and asked for information on abortion. She was to present a lecture about the evils of abortion and wanted to know if I could help by supplying information. I asked her a few questions to determine the tact of her presentation. I was then able to recommend a few books on the subject. I also referred her to the Pregnancy Help Center located across the parking lot as they could provide additional information.
The woman (I’ll call her, Mary) said, “You don’t remember me, do you?” I apologized for not remembering her and she said, “That’s ok, but I remembered you.” She told me that we had met a number of years ago, and that I was of help to her. She then explained.
Mary had come in to the store about eight years previously for help with a personal problem. Her 15-year-old daughter had become pregnant out of wedlock and was seeking an abortion.
The sign on my store’s marquee said “Catholic Footsteps Bookstore.” Although Mary was not a Catholic, she knew the Catholic Church is absolutely pro-life and thought I might be of help.
Her daughter became pregnant by her black boyfriend and as she is white, this seemed to complicate the situation even further. The boyfriend wanted her to have an abortion and so did his parents. Mary didn’t care one bit that the child would be of mixed racial parentage. All she could think about was that her daughter was pregnant and was at a loss at to what to do.
As we spoke, I did my best to convince her that somehow, she must prevent the abortion. I explained that the baby is the innocent party. I said, “Why should the baby pay the ultimate price for the sin of the parents?” I spoke of the baby as her grandchild, being careful not to use such words as “the fetus” or “embryo.”
I must admit that it wasn’t really that difficult to convince Mary that the life of this child had to be saved at all cost. Although Mary agreed, she had no thought as to how she could prevent her daughter from carrying out her plans. For the next hour or so, we explored various ideas. She borrowed videotapes about the evils of abortion and I directed her to friends in the pro-life arena. When she left, I prayed for all concerned, but especially for the baby.
Mary ultimately became a warrior for the life of her grandchild. She actually went so far as to tap her daughter’s telephone in order to keep ahead of her plans. Her daughter did not have the money for an abortion and telephoned all her friends for loans or contributions. Mary also called them and convinced them not to help her daughter kill her grandchild.
While secretly undermining her daughter’s plans, Mary continued to plead with her not to have the abortion. She suggested that the child could be given up for adoption. Mary used every argument that she could muster and, in the end, she won her daughter over.
Her daughter made arrangements to have the child adopted by people who lived out of state. Her mother investigated and found that this would not be a legitimate adoption. She was concerned that the baby might be sold. While her daughter was in the delivery room, she telephoned these people, threatened them, and told them to stay away.
After the baby (a beautiful little girl) arrived, Mary convinced her daughter to care for the child for just one week. She told her that if after a week she still wanted to give the baby up for adoption then she would do all she could to help. Once her daughter began suckling the child, the dye was cast. By the time that week had passed her daughter had fallen in love with her baby.
Mary then reached into her purse and brought out a picture of a beautiful seven-year-old girl with a wide grin. She said, “I know it has been a long time, but I want to thank you for all your help and advice. She is alive today because you were here when I needed someone.” I thanked her for coming in and sharing her story.
Grandma Mary now has a lovely granddaughter and a wonderful story to tell. I’m certain that she had the foundation for her presentation all along; she just didn’t quite realize it.
I had clearly remembered the occasion of Mary’s visit and had often wondered how the situation turned out. Mary’s story made my day, as I was overjoyed to hear the positive end of her dilemma. A life was saved and the little girl has brought much joy to the lives of both mother and grandmother.
After Mary left the store, I was reminded of the recent news release about the abortion pill RU – 486. Millions of innocent lives have been destroyed, and a good number of women have been maimed, both physically and emotionally, by this dangerous pill.
Someday this country and all the people who support abortion on demand will have to stand before God and answer for the wanton destruction of his most beautiful gift –– the gift of life.