Moral Concerns
Are We Leading By Example?
I don’t go to the abortion mill and do Sidewalk
Counseling and pray simply because I think it’s a good
idea, or because I am a Christian and a Social Worker. I
go because it’s an example that was shown to me by my
mother when I was a young child. At the age of 8 I began
to volunteer alongside my mom in the Pro-Life movement.
I still remember going to my first Pro-Life meeting in 1974
with her at Calvin Church in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. I was
shocked and a little fascinated by the tiny babies that were
shown in the post-abortion photos. I had lots of questions.
My mom did her best to explain to me. She knew quite a
bit about abortion and all the “whys” that surrounded it.
She had been a Social Worker too, working in the projects
of Chicago before she married my father. She had seen
poverty, racism, discrimination, neglect—evil in all its
forms. She had witnessed the after-effects of back-alley
abortions with her own eyes. She knew that only God
could change lives and stop abortion, and was determined
to demonstrate that both in her work and her home life.
There was no abortion mill in Sheboygan, Wisconsin
at that time. But Mom and I passed out flyers and the
precious little “tiny feet” pins each year at church to
commemorate the National Day of Prayer for Life. Mom
took me along with her as she campaigned for County
Board Supervisor, helping her knock on dozens of doors
and hand out pamphlets explaining her political platform:
Christian, Conservative, Pro-Life. We walked—literally
walked—the entire district handing out those pamphlets.
Mom won the seat as Supervisor. She won several years
in a row. She was elected as Head of the Human Services
Committee for Sheboygan County and (again) took me
along to the meetings. I watched her fight for the rights
of the unborn, for the poor, for the innocent. Mom was
leading by example. In a time when most women were
content to be housewives, Mom was elected Chairman
of the Board of County Supervisors. She never, ever
compromised her Christian values. At home the phone
would ring, and someone would shout curses at her
or threaten her. It happened so frequently that I wasn’t
allowed to answer the phone anymore. Mom still wouldn’t
compromise, and she still took me to meetings with her.
Even when it was unpopular, she would stand at the
podium and argue against spending County funds on
abortion-related materials or sending it to organizations
that supported abortion. She made enemies, but she lead
by example. She taught me that it’s the only way to lead.
prays, counsels and loves the people that go there. Even
when they shout obscenities at him, curse him or laugh at
him. He leads by example. He knows others are watching.
A few months ago a woman walked up to Forrest at the
abortion mill and hugged him. “I don’t know you,” she
said, “but some of you were out here 22 years ago when I
came to have an abortion. You talked to me, prayed with
me and loved me. I decided not to have the abortion.
And today my daughter, the baby I would have aborted,
graduated from college! Thank God and thank you all for
being here!” she said with tears streaming down her face.
Today we do not know what the ultimate outcome of
our efforts will be. Will it be people who reconsider even
keeping their appointment because we are there? Will it
be someone who is desperate and thinks this is her only
option? Is it someone who is being brought there to have
an abortion against her own will? Is it someone who feels
abandoned by everyone? Is it the culmination of a lifetime
of choices made without God’s love and direction? Some
things we are meant to know and some we aren’t. What
we do know is that following God’s will and the example
of someone we respected more than anyone makes an
impression. There are so many ways to be involved with
the Right To Life effort, but modeling loving behavior
and persistence towards a worthy goal is what makes a
difference to a family in any important pursuit.
Abortion isn’t a problem that can be solved by writing
a check. This is an abomination that can only be solved
by showing up, in person, with your children and showing
them by your commitment, words, and actions just how
important this issue is to you and to the God that you seek
to glorify with all your actions.
Respectfully submitted,
Susie Williams
Even now my brother Forrest still inspires, encourages
and assists me in this journey by his example. He faithfully
goes to the abortion mill in Savannah on Fridays and
PAGE 7
MAY 2018
IPC