TODAY I WAS THINKING OF PAUL…
not the Paul who was Saul, who remained Saul also becoming Paul, becoming a Christian who called his former self the chief sinner, rejecting his past, accepting God’s grace, mercy, Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Not the Paul whom God made an apostle. Not the Paul whom God-breathed thirteen of the twenty-seven New Testaments books through.
No: not that Paul. That Paul was used to bring many to Christ Jesus and his words still speak today even though he was martyred for Christ’s sake – and ours – long, long ago.
Not that Paul.
Selah.
The Paul I’m thinking of today was a precious friend of mine. This Paul was a barber. When I knew him for just a few short years he was an older man to me; maybe fifty. I don’t know. My Paul (not that the Apostle Paul isn’t mine too!) was not tall, he wore glasses and a continuous smile. He’d give my mom some jade plant cuttings so she could grow her own.
I remember one Easter season (although I seem to remember it was Christmastime) he gave her the most beautiful painted egg I’d ever seen… I believe it was a Fabergé egg…
Paul was a beautiful man who I only saw when I’d get my bangs cut or someone else needed a haircut (I had three older brothers.) Never once did I not want to see Paul!
Let me tell you a little more about him. Paul was always very, very loving. It was so easy to love him and want to see him. I hope he knew it; I was so shy from the time I was little, little until I was eighteen… I’d come in and he’d rush to shake my hand! And I mean rush! And do you know what he did? (I know someone out there knew Paul!) Paul would do something like a fish handshake and always would slip in my hand a piece of gum! I loved the gum of course; but I loved Paul’s love more!
Selah.
I knew Paul loved me. He would always, always want to cut my hair so he could hang my ponytail on his clock. You know, for a long time I thought he was just teasing me. But, Paul kept on asking and only because of my great love for this man one day I finally consented to let Paul cut my hair SHORT… Only because I loved him.
And he did! He hung my ponytail on his clock! He was so happy! I missed that hair!
I remember being pretty quiet around Paul. I certainly do hope he knew how much I loved him! I certainly do…
I lived in my first house until I was only six. Then we moved and in no way did I want go. So you see, I was a little, little girl when I knew Paul. Paul, an older man (but not real old to a little girl.) Paul, a man full of joy, always smiling, ever loving. Funny. Fun to be around! An older man and a little shy girl… We had such a tight bond.
Beloved: the Apostle Paul has touched lives no human being can fully be aware of. He is a hero of the Bible and a great brother and friend I am looking to spending time with in Heaven… But there are other Paul’s who seemingly touch only a small part of their corner of the world. My barber Paul touched me so deeply that now, at sixty-three years old, I’ll still tell our story and I will still get tears in my eyes remembering my Paul…
After we had moved, my mother told me Paul died. From what I can remember, he died less than fiver years later. And even as a little girl I could always keep remembering he died too young and I was sad, very sad.
Beloved: I love this man to this day. Let me encourage you: when you think you’re not making a difference, when you think you don’t move mountains, when shy people may not show their deep, deep love for you, remember when you give beautiful love you are beautiful and God is pleased!
Selah.
P.S. I wasn’t taught about Jesus in my parent’s home all my life. Now that I know Him and worship Him I can’t believe a man like Paul didn’t worship Him too. Paul’s love was overflowing and his joy unspeakable! I fully expect to meet up with Paul again in Heaven! My barber Paul!
SCRIPTURAL TRUTHS FOR THIS JOY STORY:
Proverbs 27:9
Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of a friend springs from their heartfelt advice.
Genesis 25:7-9
Abraham lived a hundred and seventy-five years. Then Abraham breathed his last and died at a good old age, an old man and full of years; and he was gathered to his people
Growing up in a home without the love for God, an invalid father, heavy financial hardships, and tremendous (sometimes dangerous) discord is always difficult. Add on to that extreme shyness, a feeling of inferiority, and some may think this girl was rejected. But God’s hand was on her and His heart was for her. Today, Ann Marie Turner has performed many great services in Jesus’ name for the love of God and man; and for herself! She has ministered in the male correctional for over ten years. Along with this website, Ann is the author of Joy Stories, Volume One and The Free Incarcerated Man. Writing about the joy of the Lord and the victory that is available for a willing soul is one of Ann’s now greatest joys! Ann’s prayer for you is to overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of your testimony. Celebrate the God of the Bible and your personal victories in Christ unceasingly! Revelation 12:11 They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.