I love seeing Grandmother.
Her golden pleasant smile touches
like the wings of a bird,
the ramparts of my mind.

This heartfelt poem is from Kiss of God: The Wisdom of a Silent Child written by 13-year old Marshall Stewart Ball. Born with an undiagnosed disorder, Marshall does not walk or speak. He uses a wheelchair to ambulate and communicates by pointing to letters on an alphabet board to form words.

Marshall, who lives in Austin with his parents, Troylyn and Charlie, and his brother, Luke, enjoys listening to Bach, being with friends, writing poetry and spending time at family retreats in Colorado and Wyoming. During the first few years of his life it was not clear to his family whether or not Marshall understood what was going on in the world around him.

His mother, Troylyn Ball, in the Preface to Kiss of God, tells us that Marshall communicated for the first time with his family when he was three. Leaning forward he touched his forehead to a button on a toy that made a meow sound. When his mother asked if he could do it again, he repeated the performance.

By age five, Marshall began using an alphabet board, and, with his elbows supported, pointed to letters to spell words. In his earliest communications he shared thoughts of God, family, friendship and the unseen world of angels and fairies. Family members carefully transcribe each letter that Marshall points out, stringing them together to spell words and form verses. When finished Marshall titles and edits each selection, personally checking the spelling himself. Marshall speaks with a clear pure voice combining words in a magical way.

One lovely Friday I dreamed I saw a
fairy. She felt so fine because she had
beautiful lace hair. Certain people see
her who have special abilities.
Her clear blue eyes were like lovely
lakes. She did wonderful, charitable
good deeds.

Troylyn shares: "Having Marshall as a son has been a tremendous lesson in patience, humility and wonder. Charlie and I have experienced nearly every emotion possible in our life with Marshall. When he was very young we surrounded him with love, we cried often and we worried continually. . . "

Despite our concerns, we decided to treat Marshall as a perfect child, like we would treat any other. We read to him for hours and hours, sang songs, went to the zoo and museums, played classical music, and kissed him hundreds of times a day. We refused to limit him in any way. For this behavior we were undoubtedly thought foolish by some. But our course was set, and wonders have continued to unfold each and every day."

In an interview with Marshall I asked what he enjoys reading. He responded (via his alphabet board) that he prefers to listen to his own thinking rather than to what others have to say. In his words: "Marshall joyously takes knowledge listening to Marshall understanding."

In response to the question, "What advice do you have for a child in a difficult life situation?" he encouraged giving to others rather than focusing on self: "Marshall understands giving harmonizes life."

And how can children hear their inner voice in such a noisy world? Marshall recommends making time to be alone: "Listen with room. Take marvelous time."
The boy who will never ride a bicycle wrote this poem for children who ride their bikes along the Austin Parks Department Bike Trail. It's posted at the entrance to the trail. Here are two verses:

My Good Trail
Wind, Wind
pelting our face
high above
answering all questions

My beginning is that Marshall
needs to know why the children
always miss the Wind.
A good thought is to make a trail
easy and marvelous
that will cause the children to listen
to the wind.

Poet, prodigy, prophet--Marshsall has been referred to as all of these. Without a doubt he is a child with a mission.

I see myself as a teacher
that knows about God.
Good thoughts come to me
and they teach.

Marshall is intent on directing us to listen to the voice within, which can only be heard in the silence. A child who does not speak teaches others to listen.