Jan
17
2019
Through Her Fingertips
Posted in Evangelism 4 Comments
My son and daughter-in-love have been married for four months.
At Thanksgiving, my daughter-in-love announced that she was going back to school.
She already has her college degree.
She was going back to school for eighteen months for a certification.
She wants to be a sign language interpreter.
It is something I always wanted to do, she told us.
She had been working prior to their marriage.
She decided to give her two weeks notice before the end of the year.
As everyone thought of gifts for each other for Christmas, my oldest daughter had an idea.
She ran it by her brother, since he would know if his wife would like what she wanted to get her.
That is a great idea, he agreed, I wish I thought of it!
My daughter seemed very pleased with her idea.
She got her a necklace on which her name was spelled out in sign language.
A gold rectangle had the hand signs for each letter of her name.
It was a wonderful idea.
I knew that my daughter-in-love would be touched by a gift that had so much thought behind it.
My son sent a picture to all of us in a family text.
It was his wife’s first day of classes.
She looked so happy to begin something she felt called to do.
I prayed for her on my morning walk.
There is something so beautiful about sign language.
Dancing hands I called it many years ago.
Sign language intrigues me.
I love to see fingers flying and thoughts communicated so beautifully.
I remember our conversation at the Thanksgiving table.
We talked about places where sign language is needed.
We talked about how churches often have people signing for the deaf in the congregation.
My son, who is a lawyer, told us how sign language interpreters are needed in the courtroom.
There seems to be endless possibilities.
One young woman, who comes to Bible study in my home, is a sign language interpreter.
She is the mother of two boys.
Through an agency, she is called if an interpreter is needed for a business meeting.
I often thought that sign language should be taught in high school along with other languages.
Spanish, French, and German are fine languages to study.
However, learning sign language would be so helpful in our daily life.
There have been quite a few occasions when I wished that I had known how to sign.
My daughter uses the sign for, all done, when my granddaughter is finished eating.
She does not sign to her daughter out of necessity.
She makes that sign as she says, all done, simply to signify the end of her meal.
My granddaughter likes to watch her mommy make that sign; in time, she will do it herself.
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)
Jesus gave His disciples a command: Make disciples.
Jesus began His command with a declaration: Go.
How can we go and make disciples if we cannot communicate with the people there?
We have to learn their language so we can tell them about Jesus.
Missionaries go to far off places and share the Gospel with the people there.
We think of the Bible being translated into many different languages so people can read it.
We are able to make God’s Word accessible when we can communicate His Word clearly.
My daughter-in-love will be able to talk to those who cannot hear, which warms my heart.
I sent her a text after her first day of classes.
I will continue to pray for you.
God will use you to minister to those who can only hear through their fingertips.
What a Story you have to tell them.
What a Story, indeed.
I can imagine her long fingers dancing as she tells them about Jesus.
I can imagine her signing as a way to connect with those who feel cut off in a hearing world.
I can imagine the joy on someone’s face when they know that she understands them.
Joy is literally her middle name.
It is fitting.
We all have a Story to tell.
We need to tell it as joyfully as we can, leaving nothing out.
Reading this again and again. I am praying indeed, as she will certainly be “ministering to those who only hear through their fingertips.” You have such a beautiful way with words. Thank you! And love you!
Oh, Susie, I am so delighted that you are blessed. Since my daughter-in-love is your granddaughter, we each are anxious to see what God does. She will speak with boldness and love, as her hands move to tell the Story.
Thank you for your encouragement. You are loved.
Gina
Gina,
My next door neighbor at our cottage is a sign language interpreter and one of his recent assignments was with the President. He was there for several days for a summit of some kind.
He also came to my husband several years ago because he was needing some help with a passsage of scripture he would be interpreting at a wedding for a couple who were deaf. It opened the door to great discussion. It will be exciting to see all the doors the Lord opens for your daughter in Love.
Carol,
What a wonderful story. I am certain that many doors will be opened for my daughter-in-love as God sees fit.
Blessings, friend.
Gina