I know it’s Wednesday. And I know I usually do a fluff post. But today I’m pissed. It’s been a tough day. One thing after another seems to be headed in the wrong direction. So I went for a drive in the sunshine, AC up high, music on blast (until I drove out into the boonies and lost cell signal which meant no more Pandora until I rediscovered civilization.) I returned home refreshed and in need of chocolate. Then hubs took the girls out, Cameron is still in bed, so I’m sitting here on my laptop, tweeting, reading, watching videos, just hanging out.

Remember a few days ago when I gave an award to Aaron Gouveia (@DaddyFiles on Twitter)?

Well, this past Monday he and his wife went to a clinic.

You see, their baby, at 15 weeks along, was diagnosed with Sirenomelia or Mermaid’s Syndrome. There’s a 1 in 100,000 occurrence of this particular syndrome.  Their baby’s case was terminal and they faced a decision, one NO parent should ever have to face. Aaron & MJ moved forward with a decision to terminate the pregnancy, their hearts breaking and mourning this very loved little life ending much too early.

As they drove up to the clinic, protesters with signs welcomed them. People who screamed horrible things at them. People convinced they were making a difference in this world.

All they achieved was to make this world an uglier, darker place for two very hurting people in the midst of their own private hell.

Why?

Because they judge every single person walking through the doors of that clinic the SAME EXACT WAY.

We can’t do that. We just cannot do that at all.

Everybody is different. We are all wired differently, we have different circumstances, levels of support, education, understanding, choices, etc. Not everyone who walks through the front door of a clinic at which they perform abortions is someone unprepared to take responsibility for the life which they have created with another human being. And even if they are – abortion is a tough thing to handle emotionally, regardless of the reason behind the procedure. Studies show women who have had an abortion are already at a higher risk for depression than women who have not. Let’s compound that with a mother facing the stillbirth of a wanted and LOVED child who is dying inside of her and add another layer of the trauma of protesters screaming at her as her heart breaks into a thousand pieces while she walks through those doors, shall we? It’s enough to make ME want to have words with the protesters.

Want to know the best way to change people’s minds and hearts?

It’s a huge secret.

I don’t know if I should tell you.

One which Jesus himself exemplified for us so many years ago.

LOVE.

Really – when Jesus was hanging out with the immoral sinners – the thieves, the bandits, the dregs of society – do you think he made up protest signs and stood outside the local bar? Nope. He just walked in and loved on them. Didn’t judge them, just plopped down next to them and started to listen to them talk. Occasionally, He talked back. But mostly He listened.

Try it some time.

The results might just shock you.

But as for Aaron and his wife, he went outside and talked to the protesters after she was called back into surgery. (link to his blog post about the experience. He includes video of the confrontation.)

He handled himself very well.

As for the protesters – beyond “I’m sorry, we didn’t know,” they did not have much of a leg to stand on despite their repeated attempts to find one.

You go, Aaron. Well said, well said indeed.