It’s Different when you Hold Them
September 28, 2009
Most of you know that we have been taking care of 6-week old orphaned triplets for the last 3 weeks. I so look forward to coming home and holding them and feeding them and helping put them to bed. Jenn gets up many times during the night to feed them but occasionally when one (or more!) is stirring or crying early in the morning I pick him (her) up and hold him (her). The other morning, long before daylight, I heard little Caleb crying so I picked him up and brought him to bed with us and held him in the darkness as I drank my coffee. Even though he had been crying pretty hard, when I picked him up and held him close he immediately became so calm and quiet and still. I thought he was asleep so I took my alarm clock and pressed the little button that activiates the light to let you see the time and in the soft green, barely perceptible glow of the light I saw two little eyes, wide open looking up at me. Somehow in that moment something shifted inside me. For many years we have cared about orphaned children, we have prayed for them, we have supported them montlhly, we have sent them clothes, we have befriended and help build and resource orphanages…but as I held little Caleb in the darkness of night and saw those little eyes wide open looking at me–what once was somehow just a “concept” of caring for orphans became very much a reality that will forever be a part of my heart. I am so thankful for the opportunity to care for these little ones and so thankful that no matter what home they eventually are a part of…they will always be a part of my heart.~Paul
Thanks Paul for all you’re doing. We wish we could be there to help. God bless ya’ll and we again are so proud of all of you.
Love ya’ and miss ya’, The Smith’s
Paul,
It has been so touching to read your blog and see the pictures and hear the updates at church about all that you are doing in Africa. Your family is such an inspiration to me and I want to thank you for all that you are doing. We miss hearing you preach on Wednesday nights, but reading your shared experiences is just as powerful. God bless you and the family. Can’t wait to have you back at Lakewood!
Wow. This is so amazing to me. I have often in my heart dreamed of being able to help others financially, emotionally and with needed materials. God has blessed me with the ability to pray and make donations from the small things that me and my children have. Thank you for sharing and may God continue to keep, bless and protect your family.
What Home will they go too, My girls 25, 12, & 9 keep telling me to start a foster care home or adopted some Children (they seem to think I would be perfect for such a thing), but I can’t even imagine I would have the time energy or finance to do such a wonderful thing in this life. So, How can I help?
This was the sweetest story ever. I would love to be in Africa. One of my dreams to go to Africa to find my roots and share the love of God. Thank you for all that you do. Give those little babies an extra kiss for me.
My brother and his wife are so desperatlely wanting a baby of their own. Is there any information you could give me on the adoption of these precious babies! Thank you so much and God bless~
Jamie
Now we have all held them! Awsome how God can make the love jump out of your heart. Thanks so much.
Joe
That is such a beautiful story. Caleb felt so safe and content in your arms and the warmth from your body and the love that pounds from your heart!! I have a great admiration for Jenn and Paul we need more people in the world like you, God bless all of you, when you hear stories like this, it makes the world a better place to live.
Thank you!!!
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Praise the Lord! God bless you my brother in Christ Jesus for blessing the children. I don’t have much financially actually I am poor, but my heart is rich and if you would email me and give me an address I will share what I do have. I love your brother and have been inspired and encouraged by him for about nine + years. I pray for your safety while you are in Kenya and for your safe return home. I am not able to do something so fantastic as you are doing, but I’d like to help in some type of way. Please let me know how I may be of some assistance as part of the body of Christ.
Dear Paul and family, may the good GOd bless you all for all that you are doing for the people in Kenya. I am an african too grom Ghana, and I can tell how bless you are to these people. Your reward is in heaven because these people can never pay you back and I know being the kind of people you are you don’t expect them to repay you. you are in my prayers, Paul I took a picture of you and Joel and his family as you visited the yankee stadium. I came into USA 12yrs, there people who empowered me and your broyher is one of them. i try to listen to him as much as i can he is a household name in my house, my husband call him my boyfriend-haha. I think he has reshaped my life. I don’t have much finacially, but i am content with what i am. thanks to him. Paul, i am an RN-BSN. if you need help with you mission, let me know i will help. hope to see you soon at Lakewood via TV. stay blessed
Dear Paul, Jeni, Precious Little Cousins,
All we can say is Thanks be to God for you all. We love you and pray for you
while you are in Kenya and a very safe return home.
love deb
What a wonderful picture of the Father’s love. I see in the sequence of events with you and Caleb, how the Father draws us to Himself, even when we’re fussy, and calms and assures us of His love. Even though we are not His natural children, we are His adopted, chosen ones. Look at the heart connection you had with Caleb and who knows how much he connected to you at that moment. What a picture of us with our Heavenly Father, connecting heart to heart, gazing into each other’s eyes, comforted in a loving embrace. Your story floods my mind with grace and faith. It points me to the keys of a loving relationship with a loving dad.
This is a powerful picture Paul, thanks for sharing and even more for caring. God bless – Todd