Count Your Blessings

“Developmentally, how is Maggie doing?”

This is one of the questions we get asked by our plastic surgeon and neurosurgeon. Any halt in development or reversion could be an indication of pressure on Maggie’s brain and so they try to keep tabs on Maggie’s progress in motor and verbal skills. As we prepared for surgery last month we had a brief chat with them about Maggie’s needs.

“I feel good about Maggie’s development. She isn’t walking yet, but she is progressing and getting better at army crawling. She can stand up by herself and if she wants something she will work to get it.”

“How about verbally? How many words would you say?”

Unlike the other kids, I hadn’t been paying too close of attention to how many words Maggie could say, so I gave a shot in the dark, “Gosh, um, I don’t know, over 20? She is on par with the other kids verbally. They were all big talkers this early.”

“That’s great for an 18 month old!”

We finished the meeting and they left and then my doubt set in. “Does she know 20 words? I have never counted, what if I am off?” Carlos and I spent the next few minutes going over the words and phrases she knows, “Hi, Bye, Night Night, Brother, Sister, Mama, Papa….” We got to 38 words in the hospital and then kept remembering other words she used “Apple”, “Book”, “Cup”, “Bird”.

The day after surgery, she said “Open.” The next day she said, “Socks”. We are up to 48 and counting.

Now that I am aware of this amazing blessing, everyday I see more to rejoice over. No matter what is going on out there, or what could happen, everyday I get to see what the Lord is working out in my home, and in my circle.

Yesterday, my older daughter shared with me what she heard Jesus say during prayer time. It was so moving and, I think, so needed for everyone to hear that I asked if I could share it with you all.

Every morning the kids and I sit in silence with the Lord, and I ask them to close their eyes and look at Jesus’ face and into His eyes. I tell them to listen to Jesus as He whispers in their ear. Yesterday was different, she was beaming during prayer. After we finished praying I asked if any of the kids wanted to share what they heard Jesus say, or what they said to Him. Yesterday was the first time anyone shared.

My four year old daughter, with a new clarity and conviction in her voice said, “He said, ‘You are one of my children and I love you.”

“You are one of my children and I love you.” These are the words God spoke through Isaiah, these are words spoken to all of us.

If you are feeling stressed or anxious, or feeling like you are behind, or something is lacking. I would invite you to sit with these words, to open the Bible to Isaiah 43 and read. Or here https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+43&version=RSVCE

Just as He has Maggie and Ines, and me and our whole family, He has you.

You are one of His children and He loves you.