The Traffic Stop that Saved a Baby’s Life

I want to share a remarkable story with you about Focus on the Family, a police officer, a distraught young woman – and a baby whose life was spared minutes from certain death.

The names have been changed to protect all the parties involved – but it’s a true story of providence and God’s remarkable and mysterious ways.

“David” is a police officer and a military veteran. A brave and courageous guy – tough as nails type. He’s also a husband and father of three children. David’s not a Christian. But he’s not an atheist or anti-God either. Instead, he’s agnostic – not quite sure what he believes.

A friend of mine is friends with him and was only recently telling him about Focus on the Family, specifically about Adventures in Odyssey (for his kids) and our efforts to save babies from abortion. David listened politely, asked a few questions about our pro-life efforts, and went on with his day.

Just a few days ago, David was driving his beat when he saw a young woman speeding. He caught up and pulled her over.

“Emily” was crying and clearly distracted. He did his best to calm her down. The young woman went on to say she was on her way to a Planned Parenthood clinic to abort the baby she was carrying.

David suddenly remembered his conversation with my friend and asked Emily if her parents were aware she was headed for an abortion clinic.

“No,” she replied meekly. “They can never know.”

The tears began to flow once more, and David could tell Emily was in no condition to drive. He suggested she park her car in a nearby lot and offered to drive her to a friend’s house.

David then asked if she might consider waiting 24 hours and think over her decision. He then proceeded to tell her about Focus on the Family and shared news about the various ministries and resources we have for people who find themselves in similar difficult circumstances.

Arriving at her friend’s house, David handed Emily his card and encouraged the young woman to call him the next day and let him know what she had decided to do. He checked on her car a few times over the next day and noticed it was still there in the morning.

One day later, David was surprised to receive a call from Emily. She thanked him and shared that she had decided to not go through with the abortion but instead face the tough conversation with her parents and carry the baby to term.

Back in 1773, there was a writer named William Cowper who penned a poem titled, “Conflict: Light Shining Out of Darkness.” In the first stanza he wrote, “God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform; He plants His footsteps in the sea, And rides upon the storm.”

Emily was caught up in a storm, and God worked through David to help her navigate the turbulence.

God’s ways are clearly not ours. Here he used an agnostic police officer to save the life of a baby – but only because the agnostic officer’s friend had first told him about Focus on the Family’s efforts to save babies.

There’s no doubt that many abortion zealots would greatly object to a uniformed police officer encouraging a young woman to take her time before making such an important decision about whether to let her baby live or die.

To those who would take offense, I have a simple question: Why?

Police officers take an oath to protect life – and life inside the womb is valuable and worthy of protection.

I’m so grateful for my friend and this police officer, who represents the best of the best.

I’m also proud of Emily for making the right choice – a decision she will never regret.