First Fruits Friday - Night and Day
A Life That Almost Wasn’t
Seneca is blessed by our wonderful volunteers. Today, we want to share a reflection from our lead Client Advocate and Spiritual Director . This is what walking with a client can look like when we allow the Lord to guide us to be His hands and feet…
The transformation is visible, auditory, and palpable in Daria*. It’s like night and day.
Seneca gave me the honor today to walk into the hospital with my arms filled with a huge beautiful gift for new baby Morgan. I walked into Daria’s room and was met immediately by a smile even bigger than the gift I was holding. Then, with a glowing face, Daria immediately picked up 5 lb baby Morgan and handed her to me. As I looked down at the beautiful perfection of this little life, my tears, unexpectedly, began to flow. This is a life that almost wasn’t.
Allow me to back up to Spring of this year. A very overwhelmed and scared Daria had an appt for an aborion at the abortion facility next door to Seneca. She was not in a stable place in her life, nor in a stable relationship, and she already had 3 kids under the age of 5. She thought abortion must be her only option for this unexpected pregnancy, but she stopped and spoke with our Sidewalk Advocates. She then came inside Seneca and spoke with our Case Manager. All of these people showed her love, respect, and the resources available to her. The Case Manager asked if I would speak with Daria while she waited for her ride to pick her up. I invited Daria into the Client Advocacy room, and I think it might have been the first time in several hours that she allowed herself to sit and relax. She seemed to melt into the couch of the comfortable room with the dimmed lights. After a moment, I asked her how she was doing.
“I’m so glad y’all stopped me. I didn't want to have an abortion. My kids are everything to me,” she said.
Daria had now chosen LIFE for her unborn child! Praise the Lord!
As the conversation progressed, I asked her if she believed in God.
Daria said,
“My mom is a Christian, but I don’t think I am.”
‘Well, would you like to become a Christian?” I asked.
“Yes, I would.”
We spoke a little about what that meant, and Daria accepted Jesus into her heart right there on that couch - on the same day that she chose life for her child! Two beautiful lives saved that day.
Fast forward to today. I am holding a life that almost wasn’t. And the gravity of that reality hit my emotions very hard. On this day, I am the one who is overwhelmed. Jesus allowed me to be part of Baby Morgan’s story on the day she was rescued, and also on the day she was born. This was a blessing and a privilege that I had not experienced before, and I am still overwhelmed by the weight of it.
For many months, Seneca staff and volunteers have been meeting with Daria and helping her get on her feet, and form a support system. I asked her if she had found a church to attend. Amazingly, a church in her neighborhood was handing out flyers the week that she became a Christian. Daria and her children now faithfully attend this church, and they all are learning about Jesus together! The Lord seemed determined to bring this Momma and her children to Him.
When speaking with Daria, she is open about the transformation in her life. She says it’s like night and day. Jesus has made all the difference in Daria. He has renewed her hope, taken away her depression, given her stability, focus, and a support system. Some things are still really difficult (she still has no transportation), but Daria isn’t worried or stressed. She is thankful for what she does have.
At the hospital, as I was holding precious Morgan, I asked Daria how I could pray for her. She only had praises - no requests. So, together, we praised God over this beautiful new life and the renewed life of hope that He has given Daria.
It has been a joy to walk with Daria as the Lord Jesus Christ is transforming her daily. Her face glows, and her attitude reflects total peace and trust in the Lord.