One evening my husband and I were flipping through the TV channels when we landed on our local PBS station. Airing that night was a segment following the development of a baby in the womb from a genetic standpoint. It was fascinating.
For one who speaks with a pen for my tongue, it led to a few words kind of day. All I could utter was ‘wow’ and ‘you’re kidding!’ and ‘that’s amazing!’
Did you know that one gene turning on or not turning on in a fetus’ early development – we’re talking the first few days and weeks of cells dividing – is the difference between five-fingered and six-fingered hands? Rare but not impossible. One gene, folks.
Tell me again we’re not the offspring of an amazing Creator God?
The special focused on one family comprised of several generations. Fourteen of the twenty-one extended family members had hands with an extra finger. If you spread out your hand, the fifth finger was strategically placed in the gap between your pointer finger and your thumb. The male’s hands were large and able to grip exceedingly well while the women’s hands were beautifully manicured with, as one said, ‘room for more ring bling!’ The family joked that whenever a baby was on the way, the first question asked after the ultrasound was not the sex of the baby but whether it had six fingers! They were loud, happy and full of life. And extra fingers.
That was just one of the program’s featured stories. Real people who, when born or shortly thereafter, were discovered to have what we would call a genetic abnormality. But for them, they call it ‘life’.
***
After that introduction you’re probably wondering if I mis-titled this post. Nope. It’s been a few words kind of day. Faced with a mental brick wall and no words leaping to my brain in excited frenzy to beat each other out onto the page, I decided to simply submerge for a bit. What came floating up was the above memory replaying like a movie on that brick wall. I felt small and wonderfully made all at the same time.
I will thank You, for with awesome ways I am distinguished;
Your works are marvelous, and my soul knows it very well.
Psalm 139:14 LITV
I decided something.
When it’s a few words kind of day, let it be just that.
A nice way of saying put a cork in it. Sometimes it’s much more soul-quieting to be at a loss for words.
If you find yourself casting about, emotionally beaten up or wrapped around the axle from the news and social media, begin to think on something more vast, and greater than you can wrap your mind around (no, not the political system and the state of the world; there’s time for that later). Soon and very soon you may find yourself with a few words kind of day.
‘Wow!’ ‘You’re kidding!’ and ‘That’s amazing!’ sums it up nicely.
Sometimes leading with your life is to grace yourself (and others) with a few words kind of day.
You and I can be prolific again tomorrow.
For God is in heaven and you are on the earth; therefore let your words be few.
Ecclesiastes 5:2b
~ Nancy
Still here to help, with thoughtful words and prayer. I’d love to hear from you. In this case, like my daughter says to her not quite two-year-old … use your words 🙂
Photo Credit: Typewriter by Florian Klauer │Unsplash
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