His Signs by Shea Pirtle

As I dropped my son off in the carline, he turned around before walking in and signed, “I love you.”

As a child with unique challenges, we were told he might experience some speech delays. So as early as 3 months old, I began teaching him baby sign language. By 6 months old, he was already mimicking the signs. Though he doesn’t use sign language anymore, he occasionally signs “I love you” when distance prevents our voices from reaching each other. And, every single time, it gets me right in my heart. Every single time, I want to freeze that moment and capture it because that little hand saying “I love you” without a single word speaks volumes straight to my mama heart.

As I pulled off from carline, Holy Spirit tugged at my heart, “I say it without words too.”

God has been signing “I love you” to us since the very beginning. Have you been missing it?

It’s been through creation, through His Word, and through His people. It’s in every sunrise. It’s in every act of kindness. It’s in every ounce of grace we don’t deserve, and it’s always Him saying, “I love you, {insert your name}.”

We read in His Word as early as Genesis 1:2, “the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.” This shows us that His love has been coming near since before the creation of the world.

The ancient words of Psalms 19:1 CSB still meet us in our present-day lives: “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the expanse proclaims the work of his hands.”

It’s in both the grand and subtle ways of the day that He urges us to turn our eyes towards Him, from the array of colors in the sunset to the embraces of our children. It’s in the invisible attributes of our God. It’s His eternal power and His divine nature since the very beginning that’s been clearly speaking and beckoning us to turn from the world’s distractions that keep our hearts from being fully committed to Him. And then there’s this… “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

God’s love isn’t just spoken. God’s love is shown. God signs “I love you” through the cross. He meets us right in our mess and wraps us in His love.

How do we keep missing Him when it’s written all around us? The truth is… sometimes we’re so rushed, distracted, or burdened that we miss it all. We drive right past His reminders because our eyes are fixed on what’s next on our to-do list instead of Who’s near to help us complete it.

So today and tomorrow and every day you wake with breath in your lungs is a great day to slow down. Open your eyes and your heart for the signs because they’re everywhere. It’s in the laughter of your kids, a word of encouragement you didn’t expect, the peace that meets you right where you are when you so desperately need it… all of it is God signing “I love you.”

Don’t miss His sign today.

-Shea

Published April 10, 2026

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About Shea

Shea is a pastor’s wife, mother of three, and founder of Just Breathe Ministries. Walking with Jesus since 22, she helps women encounter His life-changing love. Her story of redemption inspires her teaching, writing, and advocacy. Shea lives by Paul’s words: “I believed, therefore I spoke.”

To learn more about Shea and Just Breathe Ministries please visit:

JUST BREATHE MINISTRIES

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