Say What?

John 11:41 -- "Then Jesus looked up and said, 'Father, I thank you that you have heard me.' "

His blue eyes met mine from across the room and shared with me a private acknowledgement and empathetic understanding. With a gentle and subtle shrug on his shoulders, Steven was letting me know that he had heard me, even when the target of my comment had not. In fact, the target of my comment had all together forgotten that we were even in a conversation and had gone on to put full attention into the interruption - in this case, an entirely new conversation with someone else. At least, that's where her attention would focus until that conversation was interrupted by yet another .... and so goes the cycle when we indulge ourselves in a large gathering of family.

There are moments when there are too many of us in a small space and it becomes difficult to keep up. But my husband quickly let me know that he was paying attention, even when those around me had chased the proverbial rabbit into another hole.

More often than not, these moments are seen to be par for the course, but there are times when this sets my teeth in a tight clench and my head into what will be a lasting headache. So as I propped my feet up on the cushions in front of me I smiled at my husband, relaxed into a deep full-body sigh, and reached for my Clive Cussler book. There didn't seem to be a point to any effort in an attempt to continue my verbal expression.

Steven and I had a conversation about this last night - about focus, attention, and interruption. It gave me food for thought. Do I really listen when a person is speaking to me? Am I paying attention to the words, the expressions, the emotion coming from people when they try to talk to me? Or do I jump from one mental thought to another in anticipation of what I might say next?

Sitting across the room from my husband with the walls vibrating from the din of so many voices and his amazing eyes locked on mine, I knew that his focus was on me. It usually is, actually. I'm very blessed and sadly I DO take this for granted often. 

As I read John11:41 this morning, the words sunk in and resonated on a deep level. I was drawn to something that I take for granted every single day - the confidence that God will always listen to me. So many, many times during the course of a single afternoon will I mutter things to my Father. Everything from thanks to praise to requests. Sometimes I belt out in song, sometimes the hopes and fears are silently cried out from my heart. However these words are expressed, I know beyond any doubt that Jesus hears them.

I LOVE that in verse 41 Jesus expresses gratitude for the act of listening. He didn't say to his Father that he was grateful for the granting of his requests or the fulfillment of his needs. He thanked God for listening.

That hits home.

God doesn't have to listen to me. I'm sure there are other things going on in the world as I send a sentiment His way while vacuuming my living room or loading the dishwasher. But I know He will hear me. No matter what.

Father, I thank You that You have heard me. I truly, deeply thank You.