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By Julie Anderson
Member, Hosea Initiative, Board of Advisors
Every year, my husband and I make at least one trip to our nation’s capital for a prolife event. And while I look forward to the event itself, I always make time for one personal stop.
While most trips to D.C. include sightseeing to many of the capital’s monuments and museums, my trips, (even if for only a day or two), always include a visit to the grave of my beloved paternal grandparents who served as my godparents.
After a career in the United States Air Force, my grandfather retired as a lieutenant colonel. As a result of his military service, he qualified to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery. My grandmother is buried in the same grave. Whenever I visit their gravesite, I leave yellow roses (my grandmother’s favorite), and I spend as much time there in prayer, given my schedule. Afterwards, and especially if we have someone else with us, we make a stop at the Tomb of the Unknown Solider.
Recently, while watching a video, I thought about the soldiers who stand guard at the tomb. During his shift, each solider takes 21 steps in one direction, clicks his heel, turns and walks 21 steps in the other direction, repeating the sequence multiple times. Around-the-clock, 365 days a year, no matter the weather, a solider stands guard at the tomb as he walks slowly, precisely, methodically, walking the same 21 steps over and over again.
As the scene played in my mind, I started wondering how we, as prolife-minded people, could “walk” 21 steps of love to promote the Gospel of Life here in our nation, especially as it relates to the new “Walking with Moms in Need: A Year of Service” launched on March 25. While launched by the Catholic Church, it’s intended to reach people of all faiths. The goal of the initiative is to highlight the many resources available to mothers who face unplanned pregnancies and to walk alongside those mothers, helping them to choose life. Yet, I’d like to suggest we can walk alongside mothers in need, directly and indirectly. Furthermore, we all can and must stand guard for the unborn each and every single day.
To that end, I’ve created a list below which hopefully inspires those who read this blog to stand guard for the unborn children. Anyway, here’s the list.
1. Pray daily for an end to abortion.
2. Spiritually adopt a child in danger of being aborted. Name the child just as you would name a newborn. Pray daily for that child by name.
3. Donate to a local pregnancy resource center or a prolife apostolate such as Hosea Initiative.
4. Buy diapers, groceries and/or children’s clothes for a single mother in your neighborhood.
Leave them anonymously on her doorstep.
5. Volunteer to answer the hotline of a pregnancy resource center.
6. Participate virtually in the 40 Days for Life campaign.
7. Post life-affirming messages of faith, hope and love on your social media account.
8. If you exercise in your home, jog in place for 23 minutes each day. Pray for the 2,300 children who die in America through abortion. Pray for the other victims of abortion such as the mother, father, siblings and grandparents.
9. Study the prolife conversion stories of people such as Dr. Bernard N. Nathanson.
10. Host a virtual screening of a prolife movie such as Unplanned. Afterward, connect via technology for discussion.
11. Fast from technology. Use the time to reflect on Psalm 139 which says, “You formed my inmost being. You knit me together in my mother’s womb.”
12. Start a prolife book club online. Meet virtually weekly to discuss a chapter or two from What If We’ve Been Wrong? Keeping my promise to America’s “Abortion King”.
13. Spend an hour in silence on Sunday morning. Ask God to guide you as to how to use your talents to serve the unborn child.
14. Contact your legislator via email or telephone. Ask for a telephone appointment to discuss his/her views on life issues.
15. Use a prolife curriculum as part of your church’s online religious education classes.
16. Ask your pastor to allow you to post prolife resources on your church’s website.
17. Host an online event such as a Liberated by Truth Conference for your church or other group.
18. Research the policy positions of those running for office during this election year and educate others as to the candidates’ positions on the important life issues such as abortion.
19. If you feel called, consider running for elective office. After all, the country could always use more prolife leaders to form public policy in a way that honors life in all its stages. If you’re unsure how to get started with a campaign, contact the Susan B. Anthony List.
20. Join or start Gabriel Project at your church.
21. Send messages of thanks and gratitude for those serving on the front lines of the prolife movement.
So, there it is-a list of 21 steps of love we can take to “stand guard” for the unborn. Will you answer the call?
Julie Anderson is a member of the Hosea Board of Advisors, a freelance journalist of 20 years and a prolife advocate. She writes from her home state of Kansas. For her full bio, see hosea4you.org.
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