“Hello, I am Deaf,” said the young woman. Her voice was loud. Her words were enunciated. Her grandfather translated our conversation in sign language. We were in the hotel lobby. Eating breakfast. Three strangers in the dining room, nursing plates of lukewarm eggs. Hotel breakfasts—even on good days—taste like reclaimed sewage.
Today I asked my friend how her grandma’s funeral went. She had passed away last week and been buried last Friday.
My friend shared about how her uncle shared at the funeral. He had been adopted from Korea as an infant with polio. His adoptive parents, small-town Idahoans, had wanted a girl, but he came as a package deal with his sister. Tears rolled down his cheeks as he thanked his mother for giving him life, for choosing him when no one else had. My friend said there wasn’t a dry eye in the room.
It got me thinking about how the things that seem so natural, the everyday, day-in and day-out sacrifices that we don’t really think about much, are the ones that will stagger the generation to come. They’ll cut through the comfort and complacency, and hopefully the bracing wind of kind conviction on their raw hearts will move them to go and do likewise—live love in the unremarkable everyday.
Good for "Grandma" and "Grandpa" for adopting this baby, who is now a grown woman, and working hard to learn sign language. so they could communicate with this deaf child. it's sad for them that Grandma did not live to see her baby get married, but both she and her husband have earned their places in heaven because of their love and compassion. What a sweet story, Sean. And yes, you need to keep that beard trimmed for others you might encounter who need to read lips!
Precious. I get so busy during day and try to catch up on my Sean Stories at night fall and I think when I read ‘em. ….I need to read’em during the day, I drop a tear almost every time I read one like this one. Great precious people are everywhere, if we just look for them. I just got hearing aides last fall and still have a time communicating with some. Signing is so necessary in this world. I am not good at it, but I got the facial expressions down pretty good, lol.
SO LOVE THIS STORY!! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE SHARE.. & TO REMIND ME TO REALLY LOOK AT OLDER LADIES & SEE THEIR GLOW & COMPLIMENT THEM ON THEIR BEAUTY.. A WONDERFUL LIGHT SURROUNDS THEM & WE NEED TO THANK THEM.. TY SEAN..
I just had a waking dream were I am giving a talk of personal thanksgiving - not an atypical situation and structured with the typical three points “approach”. My first point was my thankfulness for my folks’ willingness to adopt me and raise myself, and later my half brother. The second point was thanksgiving to The Father, for the orchestration of how all that came to be. The third point was sharing appreciation to this church community for their love of me and their regard and investment in me.
I don’t recall ever having such a clear dream of thanksgiving like this.
Awakened out if that dream, over my first cup of coffee, I read this account of love willing to extend to an infant in light of, and in spite of the needs with willingness to offer her the accommodations needed. What an affirmation! Of Love … Of the gift of adoption … Of what a child can offer to the lives of a couple at any point in their journey ... Of Divine orchestrations that take folk beyond their widest imaginations ...
Thank you Sean for offering. Again, such an affirmation for my life and the love that allowed these years and their experiences there best direction and fulfillment. It’s been a fulfilling life because of their willingness to invest in me.
My take-away this morning is to a greater extent, the best in us comes from the love others invest in us.
Grandma - and Grandpa - radiated strength, compassion, commitment, and unwavering love - by conscious choice. They were parents any person would have been lucky to have. I love the image of her homecoming to the accolades of bands of angels. She certainly earned her wings!
Some folks just have the gracious gift of giving to someone else. I bet this young woman has learned it well. There might be more for her to tell after she marries and begins a new part of her life.
Loved this story Sean. I was adopted myself and decided one day I would do the same. My husband was also adopted and when we heard of a United Way supported agency that placed children for adoption, we started the process. My deaf son’s birth parents abused him and he was placed in foster care when he was 1 1/2 years old. We adopted him at the age of 3 years. The next 15 years were not easy as we dealt with a variety of mental health issues. But we did the best we could, learning sign language and working with teachers to give him the best education possible. He moved out on his own when he was 18 and managed to support himself. Wherever he lived he found the deaf community and made friends. Sadly he passed away in August of 2022. Perhaps he found Grandma in heaven and they are conversing in sign language.
I have worked in the field of deafness my entire career (28 years), the aspect of the girl being Deaf in this story touched me most. Those stories, the one of being unwanted AND the one of being so wanted you do whatever it takes to learn their language are so familiar. When I began learning ASL in 10th grade, it changed my life forever and I am deeply grateful. I cannot imagine my life without the members of the Deaf community I have met and come to know, including those in my own family now. ❤️
As an adoptee myself, I simply say to Sean- thank you my friend for your wise listening ears & the ability to share what you hear with the world.
Thanks Bob & Julie. You were the best most unselfish people I have ever known & I am proud to call you my parents. Thanks for making me your “chosen baby” way back in 1953.
I miss you both terribly but know you are resting in the arms of God.🩷
It's very encouraging to read about folks like these. When the world looks dark, they are a bright light for all of us.Thank you for sharing with us. Blessings
Pone, like da Beatles said "All you need is love." Dese 2 old birds had it in spades. Funny thing is, she probably brought them as much if not more joy than they gave her... really gave them a sense of purpose to go out on! I've noticed Dat in dese stories da poor hotel breakfasts don't get no respect! What'd he say "Tur# Sausage??" Like JD and Trent sez, what don't kill you makes you stronger! Besides dat, I think dey really eat that in Japan- capture da residual nutrients, you know.
Your slightly warped correspondent, (after 2 nite shifts)
Sean, as a Christian, you know things will turn out the way you hope, and I'm certain you won't be waiting your turn in line. You will be ushered to the front of the line to welcome the rest of us in with your magnificent singing voice and your wonderful sense of humor.
Beautiful.
Today I asked my friend how her grandma’s funeral went. She had passed away last week and been buried last Friday.
My friend shared about how her uncle shared at the funeral. He had been adopted from Korea as an infant with polio. His adoptive parents, small-town Idahoans, had wanted a girl, but he came as a package deal with his sister. Tears rolled down his cheeks as he thanked his mother for giving him life, for choosing him when no one else had. My friend said there wasn’t a dry eye in the room.
It got me thinking about how the things that seem so natural, the everyday, day-in and day-out sacrifices that we don’t really think about much, are the ones that will stagger the generation to come. They’ll cut through the comfort and complacency, and hopefully the bracing wind of kind conviction on their raw hearts will move them to go and do likewise—live love in the unremarkable everyday.
I believe that our Father lets us look in on our loved ones once in a while. I'm sure Grandma sees what a beautiful bride her girl is.
Those Grandmas are such a special gift from God. I hope my Grands remember me with as much fondness as I remember mine.
Good for "Grandma" and "Grandpa" for adopting this baby, who is now a grown woman, and working hard to learn sign language. so they could communicate with this deaf child. it's sad for them that Grandma did not live to see her baby get married, but both she and her husband have earned their places in heaven because of their love and compassion. What a sweet story, Sean. And yes, you need to keep that beard trimmed for others you might encounter who need to read lips!
Precious. I get so busy during day and try to catch up on my Sean Stories at night fall and I think when I read ‘em. ….I need to read’em during the day, I drop a tear almost every time I read one like this one. Great precious people are everywhere, if we just look for them. I just got hearing aides last fall and still have a time communicating with some. Signing is so necessary in this world. I am not good at it, but I got the facial expressions down pretty good, lol.
SO LOVE THIS STORY!! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE SHARE.. & TO REMIND ME TO REALLY LOOK AT OLDER LADIES & SEE THEIR GLOW & COMPLIMENT THEM ON THEIR BEAUTY.. A WONDERFUL LIGHT SURROUNDS THEM & WE NEED TO THANK THEM.. TY SEAN..
... “I’ll bet she was shocked when she saw all the angels waiting in line just to get her autograph.”....
Oh, wow... What an incredible vision 🌌🙏🏻🧘🏻♀️🙃😍😍😍Gramma 🫂
So weird and so confirming ...
I just had a waking dream were I am giving a talk of personal thanksgiving - not an atypical situation and structured with the typical three points “approach”. My first point was my thankfulness for my folks’ willingness to adopt me and raise myself, and later my half brother. The second point was thanksgiving to The Father, for the orchestration of how all that came to be. The third point was sharing appreciation to this church community for their love of me and their regard and investment in me.
I don’t recall ever having such a clear dream of thanksgiving like this.
Awakened out if that dream, over my first cup of coffee, I read this account of love willing to extend to an infant in light of, and in spite of the needs with willingness to offer her the accommodations needed. What an affirmation! Of Love … Of the gift of adoption … Of what a child can offer to the lives of a couple at any point in their journey ... Of Divine orchestrations that take folk beyond their widest imaginations ...
Thank you Sean for offering. Again, such an affirmation for my life and the love that allowed these years and their experiences there best direction and fulfillment. It’s been a fulfilling life because of their willingness to invest in me.
My take-away this morning is to a greater extent, the best in us comes from the love others invest in us.
Grandma - and Grandpa - radiated strength, compassion, commitment, and unwavering love - by conscious choice. They were parents any person would have been lucky to have. I love the image of her homecoming to the accolades of bands of angels. She certainly earned her wings!
Some folks just have the gracious gift of giving to someone else. I bet this young woman has learned it well. There might be more for her to tell after she marries and begins a new part of her life.
Loved this story Sean. I was adopted myself and decided one day I would do the same. My husband was also adopted and when we heard of a United Way supported agency that placed children for adoption, we started the process. My deaf son’s birth parents abused him and he was placed in foster care when he was 1 1/2 years old. We adopted him at the age of 3 years. The next 15 years were not easy as we dealt with a variety of mental health issues. But we did the best we could, learning sign language and working with teachers to give him the best education possible. He moved out on his own when he was 18 and managed to support himself. Wherever he lived he found the deaf community and made friends. Sadly he passed away in August of 2022. Perhaps he found Grandma in heaven and they are conversing in sign language.
I have worked in the field of deafness my entire career (28 years), the aspect of the girl being Deaf in this story touched me most. Those stories, the one of being unwanted AND the one of being so wanted you do whatever it takes to learn their language are so familiar. When I began learning ASL in 10th grade, it changed my life forever and I am deeply grateful. I cannot imagine my life without the members of the Deaf community I have met and come to know, including those in my own family now. ❤️
I love the heart in all your stories.
As an adoptee myself, I simply say to Sean- thank you my friend for your wise listening ears & the ability to share what you hear with the world.
Thanks Bob & Julie. You were the best most unselfish people I have ever known & I am proud to call you my parents. Thanks for making me your “chosen baby” way back in 1953.
I miss you both terribly but know you are resting in the arms of God.🩷
It's very encouraging to read about folks like these. When the world looks dark, they are a bright light for all of us.Thank you for sharing with us. Blessings
Pone, like da Beatles said "All you need is love." Dese 2 old birds had it in spades. Funny thing is, she probably brought them as much if not more joy than they gave her... really gave them a sense of purpose to go out on! I've noticed Dat in dese stories da poor hotel breakfasts don't get no respect! What'd he say "Tur# Sausage??" Like JD and Trent sez, what don't kill you makes you stronger! Besides dat, I think dey really eat that in Japan- capture da residual nutrients, you know.
Your slightly warped correspondent, (after 2 nite shifts)
Pubert Earle
Sean, as a Christian, you know things will turn out the way you hope, and I'm certain you won't be waiting your turn in line. You will be ushered to the front of the line to welcome the rest of us in with your magnificent singing voice and your wonderful sense of humor.