When my first child was born, I was so anxious for her to talk. I wanted to know what she was thinking and better able to understand her needs. She may not have been an early talker, but by 18 months she had more than 100 words.
Then the second child arrived. He was a later talker, but once he started, he wouldn’t stop. Even at 5, he is the loudest of the house and barely pauses for breath. (I realize this may be a genetic feature I contributed to his DNA). By the time my third arrived, I didn’t worry much anymore about when he would talk.
I knew he would and sure enough he does. Much of it is unintelligible but as he approaches his second birthday, I definitely find myself wishing that it was a little quieter at my house with a whole lot fewer words.
Humans want to connect, it is in our nature. But not all of us want to connect with words. But communication, both written and verbal has always been such a central part of who I am. It was surprising to no one when I grew up to enjoy middle school and high school theater products, speech meets and took up writing.
When my husband and I read the Five Love Languages together it was apparent very quickly that one of my primary languages is the dialect of quality time called quality conversation. I need to connect with someone through words to feel truly close to them.
Spiritually, this is no different. So often in the cacophony that make up my days I find myself wanting to hear God. I want to connect with him through words. This is why prayer and reading the scriptures is so important for me, even though both are something I’ve struggled with over the years. Because without those words, I can’t connect, I don’t feel close.
Yet, I have also felt called, especially lately, to spend time in silence. This seems to go entirely against my communicative nature. How can I connect with God without words? For me, I need the silence to better let my heart be my ears. To let the spirit of God impress himself on my soul and find my spirit renewed. This can’t always happen when I’m constantly full of words.
It is in those moments when I am too tried and worn out for words that I have no choice but to lift my silence up as an offering and see what He has to say. Click To Tweet
Speak to me, Lord. I’m listening.
Great post Bethany.
“Lifting my silence as an offering.” So good. I really is an offering, and a sacrifice most often. We need to learn to be still in God’s presence so we can hear Him speak. I’m in the #6 spot this week.
Lovely. This brought back memories of me waiting for my son to speak as a toddler. Great points.
Profound post, Bethany. I find that as illness consigns me more and more to silence, the silence has more and more to say.
#2 at FMF this week.
https://blessed-are-the-pure-of-heart.blogspot.com/2017/08/your-dying-spouse-351-this-will-all-be.html
I agree. It can be a true challenge to, literally, “be still and know”! To be still – and be quiet….why can that be so difficult? But, the more I purposefully do it – the easier it feels and the more I am drawn to it.