Can You Hear Me Now?

Photo: The Orchard by Kelly Babb Dalton

Jeremiah 29:12 -- "Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you."

Like most of the good people on planet Earth, I find that home tends to be more about the people living in it than it really is about the structure and location. Nothing quite says HOME like the busy din of a hectic and humming kitchen, squeals and giggles from toddlers running through with bare feet, stories that embellish "the good 'ole days", and the crazy comfort that comes from the energized collection of familiar voices - the crescendo of which can reach a fevered pitch so loud you can barely hear yourself think. Over the years I have learned to compete for "air space" like a pro and can project my personal contribution to this heart-warming loud with the best of them. I would not trade this cacophony for any amount of money in the entire world. It's a joyful kind of crazy.

I would, however, be lying if I said that I always enjoy these chaotic visits to the homes in which my immediate and extended families gather. There is something to be said for a few moments of stolen quiet, where the stillness is so complete that I can hear the blood coursing through my veins with every heart-beat. There are times when I enjoy a gentle conversation where full attention is paid by all participants. Yes, there are moments when I rather enjoy finishing my sentences without being interrupted to the point that those around me have forgotten I was ever speaking. These precious gifts are sometimes few and far between - making the nectar of them even sweeter and more golden.

I couldn't help but think about those moments when I read Jeremiah 29:12. How very precious it is to know that when I speak to my Father, He ALWAYS listens to me.  He hears every single word.  

Even more amazing? He hears the words that I am unable to speak. Deep inside when sentences just won't form and the thoughts jumble together into a tangled unspoken mess - when there is a struggle, or a victory, or a concern, or a battle that leaves me tongue-tied - my Father hears me. ALWAYS!

What a very purely beautiful and generous gift.