Lessons I’m Learning From Having A Voice But Not Being Able To Speak

Just before my husband and I left for my follow-up ENT visit this past Thursday, he asked me if I were excited about being able to speak again. I responded that I was more pensive than excited. I am an eternal optimist. Better said, no matter what I’m going through, I always believe that GOD is able to move mightily–however, whenever, and wherever, to level mountains and do amazing things on my behalf. And often He does! So the fact that I was reserved about the prospects of being able to speak again was telling. I instantaneously became keenly aware that only God knew when I’d be cleared to speak. And I wanted to be completely yielded to His timing and plan. This isn’t to say I was doubting that I couldn’t have been fully healed. I sure was hoping that I was! But the reality is that God has graciously worked into me another kind of faith. I like to think of it as the ‘faith of resignation.’ I desire to be unreservedly His–wholly abandoned to His purpose for my life. [Read More]

Lessons I’m Learning While I Undergo a 4 week Doctor-Mandated Silence

That’s why I desperately needed that supernatural injection. In a way that is indescribable, the overwhelming sense of peace that overcame me totally dispelled every thought of my inability to walk through this second two week period of not speaking. I felt as though the weight of the burden I had been carrying the past 36 hours had been completely lifted, as God flooded my mind with the innumerable things I can still do even though I can’t speak. I got it! It became crystallized–not having a “voice” in the grand scheme of things was not such a big deal after all. And I was reminded once again that: Only God can turn a mess into a message; a test into a testimony; and a trial into a triumph. I’m confidently trusting Him to do just that!

You’re now probably wondering why I started this post talking about movies. Well, the name of the movie my husband and I had watched was called “Spare Parts.” Based on real events, it was a powerful and inspirational story of the human will to overcome adversity and achieve success against all odds. For some reason, I enjoy assembling new furniture and equipment. [Read More]

Lessons I’m Learning While I Undergo a 4 week Doctor-Mandated Silence

Today, I wish to thank my dear friends Victoria Marshall, Christy Stauffer, and Diane Driscoll for faithfully reading these posts each and every day. Without knowing it, you three have kept me accountable to the task of posting each day… Words fail to express just how much this gesture of your love and support means to me.

Many of the halcyon days of summer end with me and my family watching a movie together. Tonight was one of those nights, except that it was just my husband and me enjoying some couple time. After the movie was over, my husband, in typical fashion, watched the credits at the end. As they rolled down the screen, the lively & beautiful soundtrack captivated both of our attention. My fun-loving husband soon was dancing in the middle of the room floor. Then like the scene from a romantic chic flick, he walked over to me–the look of love in his eyes–clasped my hands, and whisked me to my feet. Next thing, we were locked in each other’s arms, dancing and enjoying some tender moments. [Read More]

Lessons I’m Learning From Having A Voice But Not Being Able To Speak

Purposefully ignoring my family when they posed questions to me that I couldn’t answer by simply nodding or shaking my head…. Not being able to say “Amen” after a prayer…. Instinctively saying “Excuse me” each time after I burped, only to regretfully realize that I was undermining my progress… Coming across as rude in public, like when I couldn’t thank the lady who graciously held the door to the post office open for me. And so on.

But as hard as the above things have been, it’s been even more difficult to not sing out to God or to cry out to Him in prayer. At my weekly Life Connect Group a few days ago, for instance, I had to sit quietly as everyone else worshiped in song. I felt cruelly out of place as they sang the lyrics to Chris Tomlin’s “Bless The Lord ‘O My Soul”: Sing like never before, o my soul, worship His holy name. Sing like never before…and I can’t even speak a word. [Read More]

Lessons I’m Learning From Having A Voice But Not Being Able To Speak
(written by the sweetest daughter I could ever have asked for)

Just a Puzzle Piece: by Chayil McGlotten

I wake up this morning, July 9th, knowing that today should be the day that my mom is able to speak again (after not speaking for two weeks). She came and kissed my forehead before she left for her follow-up ENT appointment (yes, I was still in bed at 11:00am). I got up a few minutes later because I wanted to make her a cake, celebrating the return of her voice. As I was cracking eggs into a bowl, I got a text from my dad. It said, “Mom isn’t healed. She is still on voice rest for at least another two weeks.”

My first response was to stare at my screen, baffled by the words that my father had written. For two weeks, I haven’t been able to have a conversation with my mom like I have for the past fifteen years. My mom and I are close. If there’s one thing we do often, it’s talk. Getting the text saying that I couldn’t talk to my mom for another two weeks tore me apart. Yes, I cried – A LOT. [Read More]

Lessons I’m Learning From Having A Voice But Not Being Able To Speak

As a result of my doctor mandated silence, it’s been difficult to convey the simplest things like, “Please” and “Thank You” to my family. I don’t know American sign language, so I’ve had to come up with a few signs of my own to communicate with them. This is very awkward as I’m not accustomed to using sign language to express myself. Moreover, even though I’m with my family, the lack of lengthy or substantive communication makes me feel so disconnected.

During this time, I’ve sensed God telling me to view this as a “fast” from speaking. Fasting with the right motive and goal is pleasing in God’s sight. It is a form of worship. [Read More]

Lessons I’m Learning From Having A Voice But Not Being Able To Speak

Have you ever pondered what the maxim, “Silence is golden” really means? Juxtapose this with the song called “Talking Loud And Saying Nothing” (thanks Victoria Marshall for mentioning it in a comment) and you come up with an interesting tension. It truly takes wisdom to know when (and what) to speak and when to be silent.

During this time of not being able to speak, I’ve not only thought about the truism that silence is golden, I’ve also had many an opportunity to embrace it. I’ve had to listen a lot more while sharing a very small percentage of my thoughts: it’s cumbersome to share a lot when writing or texting is my only means of communicating with others. As a result, my days are marked by extremely brief exchanges—I’m not really dialoguing or conversing with anyone. [Read More]

Lessons I’m Learning From Having A Voice But Not Being Able To Speak

Today I really feel as if I’m going to explode from not being allowed to speak. Encouraging others is so intrinsic to who I am so it’s very difficult not being able to say a kind word or to pay someone a sincere compliment.

I also love to worship the LORD in song. Although I do not have a “singing voice,” I instinctively sing throughout the day, both when I’m listening to worship songs and when I’m not. So over and over again I have to catch myself. This and not being able to shout out to the Lord for His goodness has been two of the hardest things about going through this challenge.

But singing is not the only thing that has come naturally to me. [Read More]

Lessons I’m Learning From Having A Voice But Not Being Able To Speak

I believe with all my heart that GOD is about a good thing in the midst of this difficult situation. As I share in my upcoming book:

It’s impossible to look at one or even a few pieces of a jigsaw puzzle and know what the puzzle is all about. Life is a lot like that. While we may be looking at one piece of our life and wondering how it could possibly fit into a beautiful plan, God can see and has seen the entire finished puzzle of our lives; He knows not only where each piece goes but also the purpose that it serves, because again, He is all-wise and all-knowing.

As I walk through this mandated voice rest, I’m trusting that GOD has a purpose. Time and time again I’ve been asking Him to reveal the lessons that He wants me to learn. Today, I wish to share one of those lessons. [Read More]

Lessons I’m Learning From Having A Voice But Not Being Able To Speak

Before I go into this post, I want to first thank all the kind and wonderful people who have taken the time to comment on this GOD-given character-building period when I am not allowed to speak. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! Your love, prayers, and encouragement mean more to me than I can express.

Have you ever said these words, “GOD, I thank you for my voice?” I’ll have to say I never have.

I thank GOD often for the abilities to see, smell, hear, speak, walk, etc., but never once did I just say, “GOD, thank You for my voice.” [Read More]