“I put my complete trust in God and said, ‘Okay. Whatever you want me to say, put those words in my mouth.’”

Craig Macartney
Spur Ottawa Writer

It takes a lot of courage to share your convictions with a perfect stranger—even more if you are shy. Sometimes, as 18-year-old Madeline found out, God brings an opportunity He knows will change us, as much the person we are speaking to.

“I have never really seen myself as someone who is very outward in saying what I believe,” she says. “I was afraid of what people would say or think if I told them I am Catholic or told them what I believe.”

Just before Christmas, God had a plan to break off that fear. Riding the bus to Algonquin College for a test, Madeline was getting really nauseous—something that’s uncommon for her.

“It was really hot on the bus and the driver was driving really quickly. A girl sat down in front of me. She was crying and I could see that she was in a lot of distress. Because I felt sick I was looking straight ahead. Her phone happened to be exactly in my line of vision. I tried not to look at it, but she kept holding it right in front of my face.”

“As soon as I understood what was going on, I felt this huge wave of emotion, like I have never felt before.”

The girl was texting a friend that she was pregnant and planned to go to an abortion clinic later that day.

“As soon as I understood what was going on, I felt this huge wave of emotion, like I have never felt before. It was as if I suddenly felt what she was going through. I felt very strongly that I needed to do something.”

Madeline began praying for her and texting all her pro-life friends asking them to pray as well, but it just didn’t feel like enough. Although she was afraid to speak to the girl, a book she had been reading reminded her of Jesus’ promise that He would give you the words to speak.

“I put my complete trust in God and said, ‘Okay. Whatever you want me to say, put those words in my mouth.’”

“She gave me a huge hug and she was crying. She thanked me many times.”

They both got off the bus at Algonquin and Madeline told her she had seen the texts, that she is Catholic, and asked the girl why she was going to have an abortion.

“She told me that she had just broken up with her boyfriend and didn’t have support from anyone. She has her whole life planned out and said she wasn’t able to do it alone. I don’t remember a lot of what I said. I don’t believe they were my words, but I told her about God’s love for her and His plan for her.”

They spoke for a few minutes. Before leaving, Madeline told her again that God loves her, no matter what.

“She gave me a huge hug and she was crying. She thanked me many times. It was so beautiful.”

What makes the story more amazing is that Madeline found out she didn’t have a test that day. She didn’t need to be at school.

“I think the way that experience impacted my life has shown me that everybody is capable of more than they think.”

“It still amazes me how it just happened. There was a culmination of things that led this all to happen; that is what makes it so incredible.”

While she doesn’t know what the girl decided in the end, Madeline is confident the girl was impacted by God’s love. She also knows the experience has changed her own life.

“It definitely made me more confident to speak up. I am not afraid to talk about my faith with someone if the opportunity is there. I think the way that experience impacted my life has shown me that everybody is capable of more than they think. If you put your trust in God, you can do anything—especially things that make you afraid.”

For others who are timid or shy, Madeline says this:

“Commit yourself to God every day. Give Him your ‘Yes’ as much as you can, every moment. When you give your ‘Yes’ to God, then it is God working through you.”