“Let it be.”
“With certainty.”
“So be it.”
AAAAAMen.
It doesn’t mean “The End” like at the last page of a storybook.
Instead it’s a proclamation. God keeps his promises. We believe it. We acknowledge it. We petition with full trust.
That’s it, that’s all. We got it. We know it. Boom.
‘Amen’ is applied equally to confirmation or endorsement of what God says; it can also be used to express hope, or to confirm a blessing, prayer, curse or oath.
What does this have to do with anything at all?
Why on earth am I blabbering about the meaning of a word we say all the time?
Because my friends, that one word, those four letters: made me fall apart.
You see, this sweet girl, my almost two and a half year old babe, doesn’t speak.
Speech therapy three times a week urges her little brain to make the connections and flow from her lips.
But the truth is, months of sessions, it hasn’t changed much.
Sure, we’ll get the occassional “mama” when she’s really upset.
A one syllabled “Da!”
A “d” sound when she’s pointing at the dogs and a really stinking cute long “nnnnnn” for her button nose.
She’s really good at “No”. Really good at it.
But that’s mostly it.
No multi-syllabic words.
Plenty of laughs and giggles and grunts and groans. She does the best she can to let us know what she wants and needs. We do the best we can to try to understand and we have our own little form of communication…it’s just not the English language.
We include Jill as best as we can in everyday activities, but if I’m honest, she’s the perpetual baby of the family. She’s always there, but always a little bit apart too. Hanging on a jutted hip, crawling at our feet, sitting at her high chair.
A few weeks ago, Jill standing in her crib in pink pj’s…Lucy tucked into her toddler bed…when Henry offered to say bedtime prayers over his sister.
As we kneeled at Lucy’s bitty bed, a little boy’s prayer was offered: “Thank you God for today and all the fun we had. And that I can ride my bike with no training wheels and that my friends played with me and came over to jump on the trampoline. In Jesus’ name…”
He knew to wait and let his sister say it.
“Amen!”
Except that it didn’t come from Lucy.
No, her little eyes were still squeezed shut and her chubby fingers weaved tightly together.
My jaw dropped.
I turned around in shock.
Slow motion.
It was Jill.
Grinning Jill.
Jill, who sits quietly and watches.
Processes.
Understands more than we ever realize.
Jilly who we don’t include nearly as much as we should because we assume she is “too little”.
Jilly’s first and only real word…PRAISE.
We clapped and jumped and laughed.
“Mommy!!! Did you hear Jilly?! She said it!!! Good job Jilly!”
I rushed to her crib: “In Jesus’ name…”
“Amen! Amen!!!”
Two syllables. Clear as day. With intention.
And the biggest, goofiest, toothiest proud of herself smile.
If she only says one word, there isn’t one more perfect.
“With certainty.”
{Incidentally, girlfriend doesn’t perform. When Andy came home I excitedly tried to recreate the moment…and she just stared at me like I was nuts. She still says it…but on her terms and when she feels like it. I’m being slowly convinced that she will one day just bust out with a full sentence like it’s nothing…I think she might quite like bossing all four of us around with nothing but hand gestures and grunts. And I’m not really kidding. She’s a sneaky one.}
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How amazing. Amen, indeed!
molly´s last blog post ..Vlog: Questions Answered #1
Good job, Jilly!! Yay! She’s going to be the “A-huh” of the Little Rascals. Remember when he busts out with that long, intelligent answer at the end of the movie?? :)
Jenny Fugler´s last blog post ..windows
Absolutely glorious!!
michelle s.´s last blog post ..Typography by Taylor Mali
How awesome. One of my favorite posts to date. <3
This is amazing news!!!! What an awesome word to say!
Mari´s last blog post ..{Untitled}
so sweet – love it! when things like this happen i am always reminded how amazing littles ones are and ALL they are capable of no matter what limitations they may seem to have! He is making her whole no matter what!
xoxoTiffany
That is so beautiful to hear.
so beautiful.
britta´s last blog post ..v. day cards
What a sweet sweet word for her to be proclaiming.
Oh, That’s just wonderful! She’s on her way now!
Ya made me cry too! God bless her and your family!
Chills, I just got chills. So very happy for you!
{Adventuresindinner}´s last blog post ..I had so much fun last month…
Goosebumps! So cool! God is so good!
Kelly´s last blog post ..One Month In
THAT is fantastic! What a great “first” word, huh??
beth lehman´s last blog post ..Chicken…
*sigh*….beautiful and so rewarding!
Best story ever!!!!! Amen, Jilly! Amen!
p.s. it really is the ‘little things’
How wonderful!
Thank yu for sharing, this was just what I needed to hear.
Thank you Jilly, and good job!!
Alanna´s last blog post ..why you should always make your bed
Way to go Jilly! How exciting.
Love this. Relate so much to it. Go Jilly!!
Jessica Johnson´s last blog post ..PinterTest Kitchen 5: Chocolate Cherry Valentine Bark
So awesome!! I was smiling the whole time I was reading :) cracked up how she will probably just ratlle off a sentence one day!
I HAD to say something about Caillou too, I can’t stand that cartoon either!! His voice, ugh…like nail on a chalkbaord. My husband is always saying ” why is he bald?” haha..then one day he said that his voice and whining must’ve made it not grow or fall out or something..haha
tears . . . and Grandpa Brian has been saying for months that she is just going to burst out speaking full sentences . . . I’m sure he’s right. Love you all.
Oh, how awesome, Jeanett!! YAY, Jilly! Amen, girl!
Kate Ware´s last blog post ..February at Close to My Heart!
I rarely comment on a blog, but this is worth a yeah and a thanks for sharing. Wonderful! Beautiful! Brings tears to my eyes! Yeah Jilly!
I love hearing of Jilly’s beautiful Amen!!
Triumphant!!! <3
Nikki´s last blog post ..New Link up to try :)
Wow! Amen! What a wonderful, sweet, amazing, beautiful and encouraging word.
Michele´s last blog post ..Who Knew?
Amen! Just got a little teary eyed. Thank you for the encouraging story… I’m going to pass this along to a friend who could use it right now. Her baby girl is almost 3 and not a word yet…. but God is big.
Welp….I’m crying now. Stunning. Go Jill! :-)
Talysa´s last blog post ..Thursday’s Mindless Ramblings
And now I am crying too! Praise God for his infinite blessings and mercies! Just another tiny note of encouragement… my 6.5 year old had less than 20 words on her second Birthday. She reads, writes stories, and rarely is quiet… and yes she went form single words to sentences. I love hearing you heart for your children and “knowing” your family through your blog. Have a great weekend!
beautiful. way to go, jill!
praise jesus, what a treat. xo
hannah singer´s last blog post ..think spring {sunshine in my soul}
A to the men! That is beautiful. Woohoo! Yay Jill!
Wendy Hagen´s last blog post ..Insta Journals
Oh my, what a beautiful word from Jilly! I’m in tears just reading this!
Kara´s last blog post ..Tender / Heartbreak – Right Where I Am in 2012
Hi! I just clicked over for the first time from SimpleMom’s website. I love love love this post. Before I became a stay-at-home-er, I was an elementary special ed teacher and loved every minute of it. I loved that every single new word or action we had been working on for months {sometimes years} was super-celebrated, just like your sweet Jill. “Amen” has become different for me the last few years – I totally agree with you that it is a proclamation, because it all comes through His fingers of grace anyway. New job? Amen. Lost your job? Amen. Baby slept through the night? Amen. Toddler whiny for the 3rd day in a row? Amen. What a great first 2-syllable word! :)
Kat´s last blog post ..pantry organization {a nesting story}
Dude. Tears in my eyes. Simply amazing.
What sweet sweet words! I remember the first time my guy said Amen and it brought tears to my eyes too. He doesn’t have a speech delay, so I can only imagine the supreme joy it brought to you!
NJ @ A Pocket Full Of Dinosaurs´s last blog post ..Seasons of LOVE.
Amazing! I’m guessing everyone is saying this? But really, it is. So truly, utterly amazing.
Sarah´s last blog post ..Hi, and How’s it Going?
I’ve been reading your blog for awhile and never commented. This is precious! Praise!
Wow how fantastically sweet! What a blessing!
Brittany´s last blog post ..Fill in the Blank Friday – EST edition
I get this, girl.
So much.
“Coincidentally” I read this verse this morning that stopped me in my tracks:
Good -hearted people, make praise your habit—Psalm 64:10b. MSG
I’d say Jill has the foundation to make it a habit. ;)
Kimberlee Jost´s last blog post ..Cilantro Corn Salad {Gluten Free}
Loved this so much I shared it with my mom (who doesn’t read blogs). I choked up… Seriously, who does that over other people’s kids? :) I’m deaf… so that moment of her saying such a beautiful word unexpectedly – just warms my heart and makes me so incredibly grateful for the Maker who has created us wonderfully and fearfully!
Thank you for sharing this… such a bright spot!
Rachel´s last blog post ..So we left off with the elbutts…
Such a great story.
I know the wait for words and the sign that they are listening and processing and the joy of finally hearing that something is sinking in.
Lene Bond´s last blog post ..Shout Hooray
Heart exploding….seriously. He works in mysterious ways doesn’t he?
Kirsten´s last blog post ..Reaching out…