In this poem, the writer lists all of the good intentions that people have, like "giving" and "healing broken hearts", "comforting those in need" and "Sharing truth", but after each asks the question, "...but what have you done today?"
Someday. That has often been my mantra. Someday I hope to (or plan to) do this or that, or even that other thing...someday.
A friend of mine and I have been talking for years about taking action FOR LIFE, yet with our busy lives and the daunting task of changing the world before us, we were both stricken paralyzed. But with recent events and God's moving in our spirits, we both agreed that enough is enough. Enough thinking, enough planning, enough wishing that things would just somehow change.
We thought long and hard about what exactly we could do. What could two concerned moms do to really, truly influence this country, to change the course, to put an end to abortion in America? It has been so easy to just sigh and say "it's impossible"... but we realized that we don't have to change the world, or our country, or even our communities. Government is too big to change, the laws are too established, BUT we CAN influence the hearts and minds of people.
What people? That was the question. We are certainly not going to change the hearts and minds of ardent pro-choicers, only God can accomplish that...but those who have not fully formed their own thoughts and positions on the subject could certainly be influenced. The question "HOW" remained.
How are we going to change the hearts of America's youth when all around them they hear, and so readily believe, the lies that babies within the womb are merely "tissue", and that they have no rights of their own. While thousands of innocent lives are lost daily simply because they are considered an inconvenience instead of a wonderful, miraculous blessing. Well, naturally the FACTS that convinced the two of us that the lies are just lies are the most reasonable tools to start with.
Last year I watched the movie "October Baby" for my birthday. I cried through the majority of the movie, and felt that it was so powerful that I said to my husband, "somehow, every teenager in America needs to see this movie." But of course the thought was fleeting, because how on earth could I make that happen, especially when the public school system seems hell bent on pushing only messages of choice, and anything that could be viewed as "Christian" in nature is strictly forbidden.
During that conversation with my friend, that idea came back to me. We couldn't force the school to show the movie to its students, but we could certainly offer it. We may not be able to offer it to every student in America, but we could offer it to students in our area. So began the brainstorm session that finally led to action!
As much as I love church, I realized that many kids refuse to step foot in a church, these kids would be the most vital to reach! So, showing the movie at a church was out...
The school? Well, I'm guessing that 98% of students would rather subject themselves to the plague than to extra hours at the school, even for a free movie!
But a MOVIE THEATER...with concessions...and FREE. Now that was an idea! What kind of teen would turn down a free movie and popcorn? Exactly!
It took such a small amount of leg-work and phone calls to recognize that the goal was an attainable one. To reserve the theater for a special showing would cost $4.50 per person, and that included concessions! With 150 seats in the theater, that brought the price for a showing up to $675, that is if we filled the theater, which of course is what we hoped to do! So, again the question remained, How can we raise $675?
My friend had experience fundraising for a college pro-life organization and brought to the table many great ideas, the best: a Mothers Day rose sale. The only problem with it was that others Day was just a few weeks away! A little bit of research revealed that we could buy bulk roses at a cost of $.76 per stem, a great price! And cards could be designed and made to order on Vistaprint at a cost of $.08/card. So, we began beseeching our facebook friends to help out and donate some money, we sent out an email to some home school groups in our area who we were certain would see the cause as a good one...
And a few donations rolled in. By a few, I mean ONE. :P Crunch time came quickly and I had to act if I was going to purchase roses and go forward with the sale. Now let me explain that I am not fond of asking for a handout, and that a fundraiser seemed the best way to go about raising the money we'd need. With this rose sale, if successful, we could sell the roses with cards for $3 each and potentially profit over $1,000! That would be enough for TWO showings, enough for 300 teens to watch a movie that could change their lives and potentially save the lives of babies! I've heard the statistic that 1 out of 4 pregnancies ends in abortion. If that statistic is legitimate, that would mean that a number of teen girls watching that movie could feasibly consider an abortion at some point...this movie could literally convince them to choose LIFE. Now how powerful is that? The fact that we didn't have help to buy the roses couldn't stop what God wanted to do. Although we are pretty strapped for cash at this point in our lives, I took the last of my savings and bought the flowers and cards. I had the chance to put my money where my mouth is.
A few days later, a heard from a friend who wanted to donate. $300. I was dumbfounded. I actually cried. With that donation, the other donation, and what my mom said she'd donate, the flowers could be paid for! I could wipe the sweat off my brown and breath a sigh of relief...
But..that money could also INSURE that 80 kids could see the movie. Even if the roses didn't sell.
So choice number two came before me. Pay myself back and rely on what we make from the sale, or put the donations straight into a savings for the movie. The choice couldn't have been easier. These people donated their own money because they thought that it was important to spread the message of LIFE via this movie, and by golly, that's what their money will do! If the roses don't sell then that's that...money is just money. God will provide!
Today I recieved another check in the mail for $50, from a friend way up north! and another friend has asked to purchase a half dozen roses. My heart is literally about to explode! with gratefulness, with anticipation, with hope! There is nothing more exciting than anticipating what God will do.
My friend and I would love more than anything for two things to happen:
1) That the students who attend the movie would be changed. That the Gospel message in the movie would speak to their hearts, and that the message of life would impassion them to share it with their circles of friends now and throughout their lives. We want to ignite a flame, a passion for life, that will spread! My generation may not stand a chance of changing laws, but we can help change the minds of the generation that could.
2) That some folks out there in other counties, other states, would hear about this idea and realize that they too could run with it! That somehow, throughout the country, more and more youth would see this movie that has such power to open eyes and change hearts.
My friend and I would love to go forward with further plans for the future, to stay involved in practical ways to support and encourage the kids in our area in anyway that we can. To spread the message of LIFE, to ignite fires and fan the flames. I even thought of a name for the two of us:
Moms for LIFE!
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