Abram James: A Grandmother’s Journey of Obedience and Love
I was privileged to be in the delivery room as the head began to crown. With a strong urge and permission, I reached down to touch his little head long before he finished exiting the birth canal.
Was it that moment that created an unbreakable bond?
The newborn cry brought tears of joy, smiles and clicking cameras. I stepped out of the room to handle some paperwork and before I could return he was taken to the NICU. My daughter is a type one diabetic and we were told to expect complications after delivery, but for her - not for him. I didn’t even get to hold him.
Six hours later at 4am they allowed me in the NICU. I touched his hand and he grabbed onto my finger and hasn’t let go. I think I now know where the saying comes from “wrapped around my little finger” as that is exactly what he did. I sang in the spirit over him. Prayed over him. And accepted the invitation that God had extended to read the Bible to him. I opened my phone to Genesis 1 and read him the story of creation before he was 24 hours old.
He was six days old when I was holding him, giving him his early morning bottle and God spoke again. He said, “Jacki, I want you to love him.” “I do, I replied.” God spoke so gently and said, “No, I want you to really love him.” That was so scary for me. I wanted to protect myself from falling head over heels in love with him. And God again extended the invitation to trust him. And so, in that moment, I opened my heart along with my tear ducts and chose to love this little guy with all my heart. “And call him ‘Man of God’, he said.”
A commitment to God. To trust Him. To love Abram fully. And yes, I will endeavor to read the entire Bible to him before his first birthday. As the weeks and months passed, a bond developed between us that I never dared to even hope for.
I started with the first five books, the Pentateuch praying each time that the Spirit would do all that he wanted to do. Next was the book of Job because it always reminds me of his grandpa. Then, Daniel as I felt led one morning in church and then prayerfully, just kept reading as God directed – John, Philemon, Hebrews, James, and more. We read both the Old Testament and the New Testament realizing his greatest reactions were to the Prophetic books. The Holy Spirit was within this little man.
I woke up each morning saying to him, “Good Morning Man of God. I am so happy to see you.” It would be months later before we would realize that he didn’t know his name was Abram as he responded to Man of God.
I would watch this little “Man of God” leap into the arms of strangers to me, Godly men and women to him. The Spirit of God in him recognizing the Spirit of God in others. I would place him in the arms of widows and this little guy would cuddle right up offering comfort and hugs as only a baby can.
By the time he started crawling, he had been on airplanes several times to love on his great grandparents. On our way home one Saturday, we were waiting at the gate in the airport. He was on the floor playing when “Rob” came and sat down with his family. Abram crawled directly to him, grabbed his leg indicating he wanted to be picked up. Upon approval, Rob picked him up and Abram laid his head on his heart and arm and cuddled with him. I would later explain to Rob that I knew he loved Jesus simply by Abram’s reaction to him. He was immediately overcome with emotion and replied that he would never forget this day.
To me, simply another reminder that Abram is led by the spirit of God that is within him and God allows him to minister in ways that others cannot. He was sent to remind Rob that God sees him.
It would take ten months to the day, May 22, 2025 when I read the last words of Revelation to him, the last book of the Bible and the one saved for the end. Not only did I complete the task set before me, but God used it in more ways than I ever thought possible.
Why read the Bible to an infant who can’t understand it? Because God’s Word never goes out void. Because the Holy Spirit can do all that he wants to do. Because I trust God asked me to do it for a reason, whether I understood it or not.
About five months into the process, I began recording the readings. I have continued to go back and record the first books and will until I complete them all so he can continue to have his Bwella read to him over and over again standing firm that the Word of God never goes out void. His mom plays one every night as part of his bedtime routine.
What God will do with Abram James is up to him. But as for me, I will do my part to train a child in the ways of the Lord, so that even when he is old, he will never depart. Not because I was smart enough to think of such a thing, but that I was obedient when God presented it to me.
I didn’t do it so well the first time as a mother, and am so incredibly grateful for the opportunity to do it better as a grandmother.
