Are You Cold?

"Her skin feels so cold!" Chris commented during family snuggles last night. We had just taken a walk with the kids and apparently Ellie felt cool to the touch, even though it's still July. I checked her arms and legs and somewhat disagreed; she seemed to be a normal temperature to me.

"Are you cold?" I asked her casually, not expecting a response.

Ellie shook her head "no" very deliberately and smile crept across her face. With sudden urgency, she flipped onto her belly and slid down from the couch. We watched her crawl-sprint across the floor to her basket of books and dig through the pile until she found what she wanted. Just as quickly, she crawl-sprinted to me with the book in hand and set it in my lap proudly. Before I could begin reading, Ellie dropped to the floor once more, collected the stacking ring she had previously set down in order to transport the book, and boomeranged back to me once again, ready now to listen to the story.

Ellie always has two stacking rings on her person. This photo is from PT last week.

While Ellie executed this adorably earnest mission, Chris and I exchanged stunned expressions. The book she retrieved is called What's Wrong, Little Pookie? Its premise is a mother asking her little one why he's upset. Can you guess her first question for Little Pookie?

"Are you cold?"

"No," Pookie answers. We've taught Ellie to shake her head no to all of the questions throughout this little story. Amazingly, she recognized this tiny quote in a completely different context, responded appropriately, and identified the corresponding book out of at least two dozen options. I read the book to her and she gleefully shook her head "no" at each question. It was a precious moment.

Once we finished the story, I reflected that we may have underestimated what Ellie can understand. If she could select this book based on one line in the story, could she identify other books as well?

"Ellie, can you go get the dinosaur book?"

With enthusiastic determination, Ellie thundered toward her book basket and threw books over her shoulder until she uncovered "Oh My Oh My Oh Dinosaurs!" She participated in the reading by making happy and sad expressions on cue with the poem and acting out her invented sign for "cute."

Having too much fun with this new game, I tested her once more. "Ellie, can you go get Fox in Socks?"

With no hesitation, she successfully retrieved the correct book. We were honestly floored.

There is so much to celebrate about this sweet interaction. Ellie's intentionality and understanding are undeniable and beyond our expectations. I feel so affirmed and encouraged to continue sharing the gospel with her in simple, memorable ways because she is internalizing words. One of my prayers is that her expressive communication will catch up to her cognition, but even if that never happens, I pray that the Holy Spirit will use the internalized Word of God to save her and stir her heart to love Jesus. Nothing is more important, eternal, or powerful.

And, bless the Lord, it is possible.

"Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ." Romans 10:17

"The Scriptures are shallow enough for a babe to come and drink without fear of drowning and deep enough for a theologian to swim in without ever touching the bottom." St. Jerome

“Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God." Jesus, Luke 18:16

Such a sweet unprompted moment between siblings. They were watching Daddy mow the grass.

PS: One more thing. I'm launching a personal newsletter to practice writing consistently on a broader scope of topics, sharing family updates, and recommending meaningful resources I find to be edifying. If you're interested in receiving my monthly-ish newsletter, you can sign up here! If it doesn't suit you, you are always free to unsubscribe. Thank you, as always, for giving of your time and attention.