I long to be gracious to you! God

Is 30:18 - Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion

(2001) I was delighted when my seven-year old daughter rode on a Pro-Life float in the Christmas parade. Nearly 20,000 people saw that float, consisting of a life-sized angel suspended over Mary and the baby Jesus. That night I thanked the Lord for the seeds He had sown, thinking that they would bear fruit sometime in the distant future. But no! The Lord was upset with me for so badly underestimating His ability. He showed me that He was already strongly at work. Referring to my friends who built the float, the soft inward voice said

Because of what they have done, a mother has decided tonight to keep her child.

I began to pray with warm cozy images of a loving mother cuddling her newborn child. But again, no!

Get real! This is not going to be a storybook pregnancy. The child will be born into difficult circumstances. You need to pray for them.

After a few minutes of aimless praying, I realized that I didn't know how to pray for them. So I stopped my babble and simply listened.

Pray that the mother will come to realize that it wasn't just a gush of emotion that changed her heart, but the Lord reaching out to touch her with tenderness and compassion, that she might take strength and encouragement from this memory during the difficult days that lie ahead.

I don't know what you are going through, but God does. If this is a difficult time for you, please do not give up. The heart of the Father is full of love for you! He longs to reach down and touch you with tenderness and compassion!