#FINDNOAH

My heart and mind are completely consumed by the case of Noah Chamberlin, the 2 year old boy from Pinson, Tennessee who is currently missing in the woods. Since Thursday, evening, that little boy and his family are about all I can think about. I continually Google his name throughout the day, praying that a new story will pop up saying this sweet little boy has been found and safely returned to his parents! Maybe it’s my old “News Station” days that have me so involved in this story, or maybe it’s the fact that this is so close to home, just 2.5 hours away. But I suspect it’s more the fact that this story involves a 2 year-old blonde headed boy, and I have a 2 year-old blonde headed boy. Noah reminds me so much of Beau and it breaks my heart to think of being in his families position!

As soon as I heard about this story, my heart went out to the family. I know what it’s like to have a little boy who runs away from you, and runs away fast. I know what it’s like to have a little boy who enjoys hiding from you and watches you from his spot so quietly until you spot him, then breaks out in hysterics when found and runs to hide again. I know that this story could easily be me and Beau. That’s part of the reason why we don’t leave the house alone too often. Juggling Beau and Greta, is a lot to handle alone, so I opt to stay home with the two of them most days. My only exception to this is if I’m meeting a friend, someone who can watch Greta for me when Beau runs away, because he will…he has every single time…in fact he just did it earlier this week when we were at a trampoline park.  I told my friend who was with me that I always feel conflicted, like I have to choose one of my children’s safety over the other. I always find myself running after Beau, and I have to leave Greta behind or I’d NEVER catch him while carrying her as well. Thankfully she’s always strapped into her car seat or stroller in these situations, and I do have a friend or two nearby!! We had one close call, while picking Beau up at school, he ran off in the parking lot toward the busy street and he wouldn’t stop. I ran after him with Greta and thankfully a man on a tractor saw him coming, stopped his tractor and stopped Beau just before he made it to the street. I wouldn’t have been able to catch him, and my heart aches thinking about how awful of a day that could have been had that man not been aware of us and willing to help.

When first hearing of Noah’s story, and reading the headline “2 Year Old Boy Missing, Last Seen Going Into The Woods”, my mind never went to the places of “Why was a 2 year old going into the woods?” or “If he was seen going into the woods, why didn’t somebody stop him?” Instead, my mind went to that time that Beau ran away from me towards the busy street. They can get away SO FAST! And they always seem to go right where they shouldn’t be. I put absolutely nothing past a 2 year old. They are capable of so much more than they seem.

Reading that the boy was on a nature walk with his grandma and 4 year-old sister when he disappeared put a new pang in my heart. I can’t imagine too many grandmas are out taking nature walks with their grandchildren. It kinda warmed my heart that she wasn’t just sitting her grandchildren in front of the television and was trying to do something educational with them. But the unlucky outcome has me thinking that maybe keeping the kids inside could have prevented this. Knowing my boy, I know I could not take him and his sister on a nature walk by myself and feel in control of the situation. This is why we stay inside, and this is why we have chains and locks atop each door leading outside, because aside from my boy being fast, and a good hider, he’s also an escape artist who is tall and learned how to unlock doors at 18-months.

Two things stand out to me about this case. One, I am so touched by the amount of people in West Tennessee who have been so willing to help find this little boy! I read that over 1,000 volunteers have helped search for him, and more keep coming!  I’ve also read that the conditions are rough. So many people are putting their own safety at risk to help find this sweet baby boy. It’s quite beautiful when you think of it, and I hope for each ones sake that little Noah is found safe and soon! The second thing that stands out to me is the complete opposite of the first. I am taken aback by the amount of people on social media who are so negative. I’ve read some really ugly comments. A lot of people are pointing fingers at the boys grandma. Some are pointing fingers at the parents. Some are making awful suggestions that a wild animal got the boy, while others suspect abduction. Any of these scenarios could have happened, we don’t know, but it’s not our jobs to speculate. All of the energy being put into the negativity should instead be put into prayers.

It’s frustrating to want answers and not get them, but I have full confidence that the lack of answers is only due to the fact that all efforts are going into finding this precious boy! Police are only searching this specific area because they are confident that Noah is there, in fact, a sheriff was quoted saying that they are 100% sure this is a search and rescue mission, adding that they have total faith that they will find Noah and bring him home safe! Those are really encouraging words to read! Especially as the hours roll by…

So here’s what we know…police and volunteers have found no signs of Noah. No blood has been found, no torn clothing has been discovered, not even any little foot prints can be seen. It rained the night he went missing which is making it hard for search dogs to pick up a scent. It is the absolute worst of all worst scenarios. To give you a visual of the woods Noah is missing in, this is an ariel shot…these are some THICK woods, and I think we can all understand now how he could still be missing after seeing this…

It’s been over 2 days that little Noah has been out there. When he left the house it was 60 degrees and he wore just a long sleeved t-shirt and jeans. It doesn’t seem good for the little guy, but I truly believe deep within me that God can make a miracle happen! Tonight while reading a prayer book to Greta, I was reminded of Noah when reading her this prayer…

“Faithful Shepherd, feed me, in the pastures green; Faithful Shepherd, lead me, where thy steps are seen. Hold me fast, and guide me in the narrow way; So with Thee beside me, I shall never stray.”

Again, as Patrick and I were reading our nightly devotional on prayer, I was reminded of Noah and his family as the chapter was titled “Your Heart: Faith VS. Doubt” which reminded me that God is not unaware, unable, uncaring, unwilling or unlikely to answer our prayers. I was also reminded that Ephesians 3:20 states that God is able to do above and beyond what we ask or think. I believe within my heart that both of these readings didn’t happen by chance. I believe both were reminders to not lose faith in Him and His amazing works. I believe they were reminders to keep praying for this little boy to cling to life and for searchers eyes to be opened to the place where this innocent child is. Please join me in continued prayer for Noah, his family, and each and every person helping in this rescue mission! Miracles can happen! Though it seems bleak, believe with me Matthew 19:26, that with God all things are possible!

Pray, Pray, Pray!