the authority of love

I had a day today that I will not forget for a long time. God's grace was so abundant, and the message was so clear-- our God is a God of life. It's hard to capture all of the joy of this day in words, but I do want to share a few glimpses of how God has been moving in my heart today.

Maggie's Place is a home for expectant mothers who are in need of all of the support that's needed to give birth to and raise a child. Maggie's Place was started by a few young women in their early 20's who felt God placing the invitation on their hearts. Tonight as I watched their Christmas video I was so overwhelmed with joy to see the faces of many, many beautiful children and mothers whose lives have been forever shaped by the "yes" of these women. This is true joy!

"How do we persuade a woman not to have an abortion? As always, we must persuade her with love and we remind ourselves that love means to be willing to give until it hurts. Jesus gave even His life to love us. So, the mother who is thinking of abortion, should be helped to love, that is, to give until it hurts her plans, or her free time, to respect the life of her child. The father of that child, whoever he is, must also give until it hurts." -Mother Teresa

Another Maggie that is close to my heart is my blogging friend Gwen's baby Maggie, who was recently adopted from China. Pray for this little angel, and for her beautiful family! Gwen is truly a saint, and remains in my prayers each day. I am so inspired by her heroic love for her children, and by her great faith. Although we've never met, she is a sister in Christ and I just encourage you to stop by her blog (especially to watch the video "Maggie's Journey" on the right.) This is love-- the sacrifice of one's life for another. It doesn't get more beautiful than this.

"I will tell you something beautiful. We are fighting abortion by adoption - by care of the mother and adoption for her baby. We have saved thousands of lives. We have sent word to the clinics, to the hospitals and police stations: "Please don't destroy the child; we will take the child." So we always have someone tell the mothers in trouble: "Come, we will take care of you, we will get a home for your child." ... Jesus said. "Anyone who receives a child in my name, receives me." By adopting a child, these couples receive Jesus..." - Mother Teresa

Another gift from God today was learning about the John Paul II Life Center that is a Catholic-based health care center serving the women and children of Austin, Texas. I am so excited to learn of such a place, if it's God's will, I hope to be able to spend some time there maybe even this summer. God is so good.

"The child is God's gift to the family. Each child is created in the special image and likeness of God for greater things - to love and to be loved. In this year of the family we must bring the child back to the center of our care and concern. This is the only way that our world can survive because our children are the only hope for the future." -Mother Teresa

Next, God worked in an amazing way on a retreat in December, and I learned of a man named Fr. Rick Frechette who is a missionary priest and doctor in Haiti. You have to check out the link. Fr. Rick has led the building of an orphanage and children's hospital in Haiti, and I am so inspired by this man. I haven't had the chance to share this yet, but over spring break a group of 7 of us from Pitt med school will be going to Haiti & are planning to spend time with Fr. Rick. Please pray for us, that God will change, open and grow our hearts during this time, and that we would be open to His will.

"We are touching the body of Christ and we are always in his presence. You too must bring that presence of God into your family, for the family that prays together, stays together. There is so much hatred, so much misery, and we with our prayer, with our sacrifice, are beginning at home. Love begins at home, and it is not how much we do, but how much love we put into what we do." - Mother Teresa

Today I received a return phone call from Sr. Bernadette, who is a Sister of Life. The Sisters of Life are a religious community dedicated to the protection and enhancement of the sacredness of all human life. The sisters have such a beautiful and vital ministry, and I am so excited that they invite lay men and women to consider joining them as co-workers who "share their talents, time and their very self in service to pregnant women in need."

What can co-workers do? "Women with the “Heart of Mary” offer friendship and availability to pregnant women in need while families and single women open their homes as Holy Respites. Men put their gifts towards projects like moving furniture and building cribs or in mentoring the father of the baby in learning to support the mother of his child. Spiritual Leaders, Business Professionals, Medical Doctors, Counselors and Lawyers assist with their services, while throughout the country, College and University contacts help with placement and transfer credits for vulnerable pregnant women." If you are interested in learning more, just check out their website & be prepared to be inspired!

Today I also received an e-mail from Dr. Jim Withers who in the early 90's started an outreach program here in Pittsburgh for people who are homeless called Operation Safety Net. Dr. Withers is someone I greatly admire, and he also let me know of a new free health clinic recently opened here by Catholic Charities. I've been praying for good and holy mentors, and look forward to meeting and learning from this man. God is so good.

"I want you to find the poor here, right in your own home first. And begin love there. Be that good news to your own people first. And find out about your next door neighbors. Do you know who they are? "- Mother Teresa

Just as I was wondering how one day could be full of so much grace, I talked to my best friend Katie who told me a sweet story. Last night before bedtime Katie asked her two year old daughter Abby if there was anyone she wanted to pray for and Abby said, "Cole." It's so fitting to me that the prayers of a little child would bring such tremendous blessings.

Tuesday is the 35th anniversary of the legalization of abortion in our country. To prepare for this day I invite you all to read Mother Teresa's speech given at the National Prayer Breakfast on February 3rd, 1994. (The above quotes from her on this post come from that speech.) This is not political-- this is her life's testimony. She, the one who loved until it hurt, speaks with authority not because she asks for it, but because she never asked a person to do something that she was not willing to do herself. That is why this is not a lecture-- this is a woman speaking the Truth in love. Consider carefully these testimonies for true authority (in my opinion) is directly proportional to such sacrifices made with unconditional love. (Hence, the cross.)

"America needs no words from me to see how your decision in Roe v. Wade has deformed a great nation. The so-called right to abortion has pitted mothers against their children and women against men. It has sown violence and discord at the heart of the most intimate human relationships. It has aggravated the derogation of the father's role in an increasingly fatherless society. It has portrayed the greatest of gifts -- a child -- as a competitor, an intrusion, and an inconvenience...

Human rights are not a privilege conferred by government. They are every human being's entitlement by virtue of his humanity. The right to life does not depend, and must not be declared to be contingent, on the pleasure of anyone else, not even a parent or a sovereign." -- Mother Teresa

God bless you all,

love,
nicole