Mistie Suhr’s Story
As a hearing mother of two Deaf children, two hearing children, and a child with a unilateral hearing loss, I am so very appreciative of having access to God’s word in American Sign Language. Our family has this access not only through the church we attend where the pastor uses sign language directly, but we also use resources from many Deaf organizations across the US. We use the Deaf Missions App for Dr. Wonder’s workshop and the ASLV as well as using songs from Deaf Harbor to encourage praise to the Lord.
I can think of one example in particular of having access to God’s word in sign, when a few weeks ago, as I was putting my 7-year-old (who is considered as having a severe to profound hearing loss) to bed, she signed to me,
“Mom, God made the sun, moon, stars, animals, plants, fish, birds and people.
God made all of that.
But…. who made God?”
As she is not typically my deep thinker, and this question had nothing to do with our previous topic of conversation, I was completely thrown off. I explained to her that God is the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last. He has always been and always will be.
She thought about that for a while and then looked at me and signed,
“OK, I’m glad He loves me and I love Him.”
Such a deep question, and, had I, as her mom, not known sign language, she could have gone many more years not knowing the answer to her question. I take it for granted sometimes the access to American Sign Language that we have in our house, when so many other children don’t have it. My children are truly blessed for being able to know Jesus at such a young age, and also to be free to ask deep questions and receive answers in real time, rather than wait for the day, month, or year they will finally know His truths.
As I look at my children, who, from day one, had access to ASL and therefore, access to God’s word through myself and my husband, grandparents and friends, and various ASL programs and resources, they are so blessed to not have to wonder about God and keep those questions to themselves because there is no one around who can clearly explain it to them in a language they will understand. They are not deprived of knowing His love and how they too can experience His grace and mercy.
I absolutely love watching my children volunteer to pray before meals and during prayer times throughout the day. Their prayers are so heartfelt and allow me to see the love of my God through the eyes of little children. Now they, with this knowledge of Jesus and with their little hands signing away, can reach other children (and adults!) for Jesus that I could never reach.
The Bible says in Isaiah 52:7, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news” . I believe we could also say, “How beautiful are the hands of those who bring good news,” especially when those hands are so little, yet fully equipped with the blessed news of Jesus Christ.