This is a praise to the Lord! First, I’d like to give some background information. As many of know, we have adopted 2 children, which we have had from birth. They were methamphetamine exposed babies, and therefore we have experienced many challenges. However, my husband and I feel strongly that God ordained that these babies be placed in our home.
Just prior to receiving the girl, two and a half years ago, I had been memorizing Isaiah 58. The verse that says, “Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house?…” had been running through my mind. We were foster parents, and had 2 teenaged girls. The social worker came to our house, and just by chance, (providence) told me of a baby that had been born the night before, and said that they had no place for her, and she would have to be taken to a receiving home. Immediately I thought of that verse, and my heart went out to that precious baby. I suggested that we might be interested. He said he’d check into it.
Monday morning, the social worker called and said it was all arranged for us to pick up the baby in about 2 hours at Wal-Mart! So we went to get her on her fourth day of life. A little over a year later, we heard that her mother was pregnant again, and we started praying for the unborn baby. 1 year and 2 weeks after Hannah was born, Jordan entered the world. The social worker called and said we had 15 minutes to decide if we wanted him! It turned out that the social worker was on vacation, and for no reason that he understood, stopped by his office, and happened to hear 2 other workers talking about a baby that was just born. He inquired and found out it was Hannah’s brother. He said he knew a good home for him. If he hadn’t been there right at that moment, Jordan would have been placed in another home. We felt that these and other providential signs confirmed that God wanted these children in our home.
So, we have had these precious children since birth, and are endeavoring to raise them for Jesus. There have been many challenges, and untold sleepless nights. Because of various reasons, we rarely take them out, other than to church. Sometimes I feel like a prisoner in my home. But other times I know I am incredibly blessed.
Recently Jordan has been tested and is under treatment for Autism. More challenges are ahead.
But here’s the praise! Last night, my husband was out of town, so I put the children down after rocking them and singing to them. I like to sing my prayers for them as I rock them. All was well.
About 2:30 am, I heard Jordan crying and went to get him. He doesn’t usually wake up in the night (that’s Hannah’s department!). I was really tired, so after I changed him, I just took him to bed with me. He went to sleep after about half an hour. After that, I soon was sleeping soundly.
After a half hour or so of being in a deep sleep, I suddenly awoke, wide awake. Something told me, check on Jordan. He was a little ways over in our king sized bed, lying very still. I put my hand on him, to feel his breathing, and he was NOT breathing! I felt and listened very closely, and there was NO response. I shook him gently. NOTHING. I picked him up, and rolled him over, and he was totally limp and non-responsive. I rolled him over several times, and FINALLY he started breathing!
I don’t know how long he went without breathing but it felt like an eternity. I don’t know what was going on. There was no reason why he stopped breathing that I could tell. Quite possibly he was about to become another SIDS statistic. I do believe that God woke me up just at the right time. I know for a fact that God wants Jordan to live. I stayed awake for several hours praising God, and listening to Jordan breathe! He is totally fine this morning. God is good!
This experience has increased my faith in God, and helped me to more deeply appreciate the privilege of having these children. It showed me how very much I love them, and would do anything for them. Preparing these little ones for heaven is the work God has given me to do. I just praise the Lord for sparing Jordan’s life!