Following my resignation, I questioned God daily. “You know I have a heart to help women choose life. Why won’t You use me? Why can’t I serve You?” I doubted His faithfulness and I missed interaction with “my girls”—young women distraught and afraid from unplanned pregnancies.

After the winter months and a long season of bed rest, I eventually mustered enough strength to work around the house. By August I tended flowers in the yard, and in September I noticed two peach trees across the road near my country home.  Large limbs, abundant with luscious peaches, bowed toward the ground. Wow! I have never seen these peach trees with such a huge crop!

One day, as I enjoyed the crisp fall air, a woman slowly drove by my yard, turned, edged to the side of the road and finally parked near the peach trees.  I crossed the road and noticed the driver was tired-looking and Hispanic. Perhaps she's lost and needs directions. I greeted her with a smile.

“May I help you?” 

“Excuse me, Ma'am. I…I…I was looking at the peaches. They are so beautiful. I just love peaches…” Hesitation filled her voice.

As we talked, I sensed she was in trouble. I pointed to the peach trees, nodded and offered her some; I thought the gift would cheer her.

Then, our conversation turned toward children.

“I…I…I have two ‘bee-bees.’ But now, I have another one inside me that we…we can’t afford. I….I….must go tomorrow and get rid of it,” she sobbed. “My Madre, my Mama, who lives in Mey- hi- co, she would be so ashamed of me. But, I don’t know what else to do.”  Her shoulders heaved and tears splashed her cheeks.

My heart leaped at the significance of the moment. Standing in the shade of my peach trees, I was amazed at God’s incredible timing. He used my glorious crop of peaches to bring an abortion-minded woman straight to me! How could I ever doubt His faithfulness again?

I gently counseled my new friend about the gift of life she carried and directed her to Animas for help. Later, I was delighted to learn she had changed her mind about the abortion.

I will always be grateful for those peaches and how God used them to save a baby’s life. And now, more than ever, I am confident God can use me, even outside the walls of a pregnancy center.