Be Our Guest / Linda Kile

Blessings Bag moves heart, helps teenager choose life

In the March 15 issue of The Criterion, there was an article about the sidewalk counselors who volunteer to lovingly advise women considering abortion to choose instead to save their baby’s life. The article included a photo of the Blessings Bag we offer to those who stop.

I just wanted to share a recent story about how important those bags are and the difference they make. Following is a text I received from a young woman:

“On April 11th, I had gone to the Indianapolis Planned Parenthood. You guys were protesting outside and gave me a pink bag with information, candy and Linda’s phone number. That is honestly what changed it all!

“At the clinic, I had an ultrasound done and a consultation. I told my mom I was unsure if I could go through with this so we need to wait before making the next appointment. On the two-hour hour drive home, I read over and over the bag you handed me and now, a month later I have chosen to keep my baby at the age of 17. I wanted to thank you and your team personally as I made this life-changing decision.

“That little pink bag changed my life, and I can’t thank you enough! I will never throw that bag away. … I even put my positive pregnancy tests in it. I really support everything you guys do. My name is Alyssa. Feel free to share this with your team to let them know they are impacting my life.”

Alyssa sent that text message to me on April 30. The little pink bag she is referring to is the Blessings Bags our sidewalk counselors give out as women enter the drive to Planned Parenthood. They contain a brochure with abortion information and my phone number, a handwritten note from the sidewalk counselors and a small assortment of candy. Some days, no one will stop to take a bag, but some days as many as seven bags have been given out.

It costs about $4 to make a bag. If you would like to help us cover the cost of making our Blessings Bags, please hit the donate button on our website at www.glgabrielproject.org or mail a check to: The Gabriel Project, P.O. Box 1232, Columbus, IN 47202.

Please pray for Alyssa and her boyfriend as they embrace their journey of parenthood, and thank God for blessing Alyssa with the courage to say “yes” to life.
 

(Linda Kile is the president and director of the Great Lakes Gabriel Project.) †