When comedian Michael Jr.’s youngest daughter was born, he was, of course, there. But in the excitement and chaos and emotion of welcoming little Portland into the world, Michael Jr. says he hadn’t noticed something pretty amazing that happened in that delivery room back then.
Having recently gone through his old video tapes, Michael Jr. came across a recording that captured this moment just after Portland’s birth. She was screaming and crying, her face scrunched up and her tiny fingers splayed. As he continued filming, Michael Jr. approached his little girl and began speaking to help sooth her.
Instantly, the newborn stopped crying.
“That was pretty awesome,” Michael Jr. says, re-watching the video.
The video didn’t stop there. As a nurse began tending to Portland and putting a diaper on her, Portland began crying again. Once again, Michael Jr. spoke, and she instantly stopped. Then, Michael Jr. told Portland that he loved her, and something else happened: She opened her eyes for the first time.
“That’s just phenomenal,” he says today. “I’m like, ‘Whoa.’”
A man of faith, Michael Jr. believes there’s a divine message within these cherished moments. “Here’s the thing. We’ll always have times when we’re not as comfortable ― probably even to the point of tears, where life is just heavy. The key thing to do in those moments is to be still and listen for the Father’s voice,” he says. “I can tell you, what He wants you to know is that He loves you. All you gotta do is open your eyes.”
This short film appeared on an episode of “SuperSoul Sunday,” which airs Sundays at 11 a.m. ET on OWN.
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