Lisa Notes: How do you spell hope?

How do you spell hope?

For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O LORD, from my youth.
Psalm 71:5

I saw the long-haired, teenage girl standing among the other poor. Poor in what? In money. That’s all I knew for sure. Maybe rich in a million other ways. I hope so.

But her poverty stood out twice. Not just in her clothes, but in her voice. Or lack of one.

When I greeted her, she didn’t respond. Not everyone did. So what? I let it slide.

A few minutes later, I understood why.

She was deaf.

In her circle of friends (well, only one friend was really paying attention), she was signing. But something was odd about it. She was using very few word signs. She was mainly finger-spelling.

Can you imagine having to spell everything you want to say? Texting is trying enough. I’ve learned to say much less.

But what if every time you wanted to share an experience or have a conversation or ask a question, you had to do it all letter by letter, not word by word?

How many thoughts would go left unsaid?

And how many friends would you have at the end of a day?

And why, oh why, was this girl having to spell everything anyway? After 16 or 17 years, hadn’t someone been able to teach her sign language? Apparently not. It was probably another cost of being poor. Where could she go to learn? Who would take her there? How would she pay for it?

I wanted to cry. I was no longer curious; I was heart-broken. I had never even considered such complications for a deaf, poor girl.

How much more have I never considered?
The weight of possibilities can crush me.

I need something more.
I need hope.

Hope is what keeps me from despairing.
Hope is what tells me things will get better.
Hope is what encourages me to do what I can.

I spell hope: J-E-S-U-S.

My hope for the deaf girl is to know Jesus and his riches.
I will use my words to talk to Him about her.

I have hope.
I hope and pray she does, too.

21 But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope:

22 The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end;

23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

24 “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”
~ Lamentations 3

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Where do you find hope?

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Dianna · 712 weeks ago

Very thought provoking, Lisa. I cannot imagine having to spell out every word I want to say. I love "The Lord is my portion"....how precious those words are.

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Lisa notes 103p · 712 weeks ago

Dianna,
I know; it was painful even to watch. Granted, she was a very fast finger-speller. ;-) So fast that there was no way I could keep up with her. I learned the alphabet years ago but I’m terribly slow at it.

“The Lord is my portion” is special to me too. I feel like I’m only beginning to touch the tip of the iceburg of what that means. He is our everything.

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r.elliott · 712 weeks ago

hi neighbor...wow...I can't imagine...so much still trapped inside...Love that not only were you eyes open...but you heart as well...
Blessings~
My recent post

1 reply · active 712 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 712 weeks ago

Our posts on poverty today, Ann’s post, … these make me ache. I wonder what I’m to do…

Yes, so much still trapped inside. I wonder how much we have trapped inside too, unaware? Thankful for His grace. It gives me hope.

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floyd · 712 weeks ago

Sometimes I still feel like I can tackle the mountain and or anyone in my way. Then I hear a story like this and breaks my heart and melts it into tears.

I have a passion and a soft spot for kids, especially the ones who are underprivileged and have handicaps. I know that those people are probably given a little bit more of a heart to know God.

God has put a desire in me to help them. If you know of a way to help this girl, let me know. We'd like to help.

Sometimes this fallen world breaks my heart, today is one of those days.
My recent post THE INTERSECTION OF LIFE AND DEATH

2 replies · active 712 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 712 weeks ago

It’s good that you have a soft spot for kids like these, Floyd. My heart hurts for them, too, but so often I don’t have a clue how to help. :-(

I don’t know if I’ll ever see this girl again, but who knows? God has a way of working things out. I pray for his vision. If he shows us a way we can help, I’ll let you know.

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floyd · 712 weeks ago

OK, thanks.
My recent post THE INTERSECTION OF LIFE AND DEATH

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brian · 712 weeks ago

i can not imagine having to spell everything...i was taught sign by a man that was one of our guides on a river trip...he was going to hold my rope when i stepped off a cliff so it became important...why had no one taught her more...ugh...i dont know that i want the answer...i am glad it moved your heart and you shared it so it would move ours as well...

1 reply · active 712 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 712 weeks ago

So you had good reason to learn sign. I've learned bits and pieces from books and from a dear friend who is an interpreter. But I've never had to depend on it....

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tinuviel · 712 weeks ago

What a compelling story! A group of us girls learned finger spelling in elementary school and thought it would be fun to "talk" silently and secretly that way. The fun quickly became tedious. I can't imagine having that as my only mode of communication. Thanks for sharing this. You have me thinking.
My recent post Hope for Hungry Hearts

1 reply · active 712 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 712 weeks ago

I remember doing similar things—finger-spelling, talking in pig-latin, using made-up codes, etc. And yes, they became tedious VERY fast. I know those who really know full sign language can communicate as quickly as we can, but letter by letter? It would take me so long to even say a sentence. (The only plus is that perhaps I’d get in less trouble for saying too much before thinking?)

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Old Ollie · 712 weeks ago

You have such a solid focus, helps me focus. Thanks L.

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Happygirl · 712 weeks ago

Texting does edit me and I can't imagine not speaking. I pray she has an outlet for her thoughts. Maybe she blogs. Thanks for the connection to the hope we have spelled J E S U S. This is truth.

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Lisa notes 103p · 711 weeks ago

Very blessed to be e-mailing today with a reader who adopted a deaf girl from an African orphanage with many deaf children. I'll see if she minds if I blog her story one day soon. I love miracle stories of God at work in His people.

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imperfect prose · 711 weeks ago

this makes me cry. thank you for seeing her. for hearing her. xo

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Julia · 711 weeks ago

"I spell hope J-E-S-U-S." Yes, my friend! I so appreciated these words... these thoughts... this compassion... "How much more have I never considered?" Oh Jesus, redeem this fallen world!
My recent post A lesson on being loved

1 reply · active 711 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 711 weeks ago

As you put in your post, Julia, he shows us person by person how to see, how to love and be loved, how to be compassionate. I have so much to learn about living Christ-like in this fallen world. I’m grateful he is so patient to never give up on us.

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kamana · 711 weeks ago

my sisters in law are deaf. they were never taught how to communicate except through basic gestures. never had the opportunity to go to school. they cant read or write. it breaks my heart that they never had the opportunities others do, simply because they are deaf.

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Lisa notes 103p · 711 weeks ago

My heart breaks too, Kamana, hearing this story. I listened to a Focus on the Family broadcast not long ago of a father of a deaf daughter. He shared that he wanted her to learn to sign so she would be able to express her thoughts better, to put them into “words” (so to speak). I found that profound.

When I think of your sisters-in-law, I wonder how they find form for their thoughts. I pray the Lord has much mercy on them. I know his grace can reach each one, right at their point of need. Lord, please do so.