Ears That Hear

A few days ago, a friend of mine posted something on her facebook page that impacted me.  She has a niece who is about a year old.  A happy little girl, based on the pictures I saw.  A little girl born the same year as my little girl, just a few months earlier.  And that sweet girl was born mostly deaf.  As I read a little of her story by following the link, I learned that with hearing aids, she can hear noises like jack hammers.  Without them, she can't even hear that.  Which means, even with hearing aids, she has never been able to hear her mommy's voice telling her she loves her.  Never been able to hear her daddy's voice soothing her when she's hurt.

And as I read that, it just did something to my heart.

It made me so grateful for my own ears that hear.  My ears that know the voice of my parents.  The ears that hear my husband call me beautiful.  The ears that hear my darling baby's belly-laugh when I rub my head on her tummy.  Do I realize this gift I have been given my whole life?

And then, probably even more strongly, it made me feel so much more grateful for my baby girl's ears that hear.  Grateful that she looks at me with a smile when I say her name.  That she laughs in the bathtub while playing with her toys when she looks over at me and I say in a singy-song voice, "I see you!"  Even that she startles when she doesn't realize I'm in the room and I suddenly say something to her.

I am reminded of the words of one of my most favorite Primary songs:  Whenever I hear the song of a bird... He gave me my ears that I might hear the magical sounds of things.

And, though I haven't -- to this point in my life -- needed it, I'm grateful for the technology that exists to help those who can't hear.  This little girl, whose story helped me be more grateful, is scheduled to receive a cochlear implant on Valentine's Day.  What an appropriate day for her to hear the words "I love you" for the first time (at least with her ears).

You can read about this little girl here.  And if you feel so inclined to help, please do.  I don't intend for this blog to be a solicitor.  It is meant to be a gratitude blog.  But in being grateful for this, I am faced with the reality that not everyone has it.  And as a mother, I know what it is to love my child with all that I have.  I know what it is to want all the good there is for her.  I know what it is to know I would do all I could to give her the very best (of non-material things).  And though I do not know this little girl personally, nor do I know her family (outside of her great-aunt), I am pretty much 100% positive that her mother feels the same way.  But sometimes we can't do it alone.  And I believe there are those who want to help.  That we are here to lift and help each other.  Because I believe no man is an island.

What are you grateful for today?