The Greatest of These is Love

And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor... 

but have not love, it profits me nothing...

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; 

but the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13

Rewinding to nine months ago...

A happy 20-something girl was still living with her mom, and "in love" with a man. She found out she was pregnant, and two weeks later, the man of her dreams was outta there. I've explained marriage before... basically no one can afford to get married. But that's a whole other story in itself. Anyway, she planned to kill him if she saw him... quite literally. This scared young woman decided not to tell her family about the child, but moved to a city a few hours away and planned for an abortion.  She got a job making the equivalent to 80 cents per day, working sun-up to sun-down, sleeping on the floor, and starving.

God intervened.

Her Jesus-loving brother called her, and told her not to get an abortion but just come home. Thankfully, she listened.

I didn't see the buckets of tears she told me she cried. I didn't see her fight the fears and choose LIFE for this child she still wasn't even sure she wanted. But when she arrived at my house for a Bible study that Friday evening, I saw a truly exhausted girl needing Jesus' love. When I asked her name, she barely whispered, "Pauleen."

We invited her to come back to our house to hear her baby's heart beat with our doppler. She came the next day. I was able to check the heart rate, and explain childbirth to her. She had no idea what to expect. She told me her story. I listened. She just needed an ear, not advice. We cried and we prayed.

Childbirth is a scary thing especially when medical resources are limited and a far cry from sanitary. Mortality rates are extremely high for both mom and baby. With no education... she didn't even know what a contraction was... and little family support, she was terrified.

Tyler offered to bring her to get an ultrasound... a luxury she couldn't pay for. It cost us $6.00. The ultrasound confirmed a healthy baby boy. "I really wanted a girl... and I don't like holding babies that are really small." We sat on a bench by the dirt road waiting for Tyler to pick us up. I handed Samuel to her and let her "practice." I told her she'd be a great mom.

She was afraid to go into labor at night because she would have no way to get to the hospital, and the doctors might just leave her until morning. Tyler assured her that he would bring her to the hospital no matter what time it was.

A few nights later, after my nice birthday date and dinner, we were getting ready for bed at 11:30. I heard a little voice calling from outside, "Tylah, Tylah!" I opened the door and saw Pauleen laying on the ground, accompanied by another neighbor.  Pauleen's family told her not to bother us, but she insisted, and started walking to our house in the dark by herself. A neighbor saw her walking, and joined her. We prayed. Tyler got her in the car, picked up her mom on the way to the hospital, and coached her through contractions while driving.

The next day, I was BLESSED to go meet that chubby little man. She asked me to name him... I changed the subject quickly. How can I name someone else's child?! She named him John Smith. Maybe I should have taken her up on that. Ha!

Sitting in the hospital bed... a thin piece of foam on a bed frame- no pillow... she said with a new peace all over her, "I like him now. I need to accept what God has planned. His way is perfect for me." YES!

She came over a few days ago with John Smith. She loves that baby. I'm blessed to have been able to help her. Even better though, Jesus has given me an open door to disciple this girl. Her faith is not strong. I see her as a delicate tea cup - precious, but easily broken. I follow Jesus' lead and deal gently with her in love. Please pray for Pauleen.