40 Days For Life: DAY 25: Eggs thrown ... babies saved

Dear Deacon John, It's official! We've had the first reported egging of the campaign. There was no bacon or sausage tossed along with it ... but I'm sure that was out of respect for the fasting that's taking place :-) Shortly before 40 Days for Life's Steve Karlen was set to talk to volunteers in Hollywood, Florida ... someone in a passing vehicle lobbed a handful of eggs at vigil participants.

Thankfully, they only hit the pavement. Most of the time, the only things angry drivers aim at volunteers are rude words and gestures ... or an obnoxious blast of a car horn. But through it all ... undaunted vigil participants respond peacefully by continuing to pray. Christ said to expect insults and such when we act in His name, so He gives us the grace to offer it up and just keep going. Eggs aside ... here's more from Steve's trip through Florida.

Hollywood, Florida In all, Steve said it was a great visit with the 40 Days for Life team in Hollywood ... never mind the flying eggs, or the one critic who shouted "Hail Satan!" as he drove past. "The abortion center is two doors down from a pediatric clinic," Steve said. "One mom bringing her kids to the pediatric clinic stopped and asked how she could donate items to support mothers in need." He also met a priest who was the 14th child in his family. "The doctors insisted his mother have an abortion," Steve said, "but she said she never would. Now he is an active participant in the campaign."

South Florida rally Three 40 Days for Life campaigns teamed up for a mid-point rally – "a great evening of dinner and fellowship," as Steve described it. Shown above with Steve are the three local leaders – Nancy from Hollywood, Maria from Miami and Tom from Fort Lauderdale. Tom reported that Fort Lauderdale volunteers learned of six babies saved from abortion that day alone.  Vigil participants say two of the mothers chose life for their children because a simple sign that reads "we will help you."

Lakeland, Florida A group that Steve described as "an incredibly enthusiastic crowd" came out for a candlelight vigil in Lakeland. Andrea from the local pregnancy help center shared the story of the first baby spared from abortion during the current 40 Days for Life campaign. A woman was inside the abortion facility waiting to have an abortion, but when she saw somebody at the vigil holding a sign, she left and went to the pregnancy center ... where she chose life!

Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.” — Jeremiah 1:4-5 Lord God, we confess that in You we live and move and have our being. Because You are, we are. May we find grace from You to affirm the being of every human and may we labor to make this truth known to the world around us. See today's full devotional

For life,

Shawn Carney President/CEO, 40 Days for Life

40 Days for Life 4112 E 29th St. Bryan, Texas 77802 United States (888) LIFE-316