It’s always going to be about me controlling my tongue. Learning to be quiet. I blame my surgeon.
When I was 18 months old, I had surgery to correct my cleft palate. That surgery left me with an INCREDIBLY nasal voice–almost incomprehensible. My sister even beat up a girl who dared to mock the way I talked. I’m pretty sure she didn’t get in as much trouble as she normally would have when Dad found out why. 😉
But the doctor told my parents, “Encourage her to talk. Most kids with her condition don’t speak enough to learn to speak properly.”
How he avoided a lawsuit, I don’t know. My parents have never forgiven him. 😉
The mantra–the theme song–of my childhood was, “Slow down and enunciate.” If I had a dollar…
I really like this way that your are doing a devotional. It helps to see the reality of another’s life.
Oh, this so spoke to me. Every day I’m surrounded by noise. I have five children. The older four are boys. We homeschool. It’s 24/7 chaos. Or at least it feels that way.
I desperately need quiet moments, yet I am having to learn to “Be still and know…” in the midst of my reality.
So I think your words mean so much because the Lord has been showing me that this kind of peace comes only from Him and isn’t dependent on my surroundings. I need a heart fixed on Him alone. Teach me, Lord, to rest in You, even amidst the chaos and joys of children!
And that chaos can really destroy that peace if you don’t focus on the only One who can drown it out and keep your heart quiet.
Thank you for sharing this, you are aware of how deeply this speaks to me. The whole thing of keeping silent and letting the Lord fight my battle? Yeah, it’s a real step of faith. Not because I don’t believe He will fight for me, but the keeping silent…
It’s like I tell my kids, “Just don’t engage. Walk away. Be silent. People can’t argue with silence.”
My daughter was born with a cleft lip and palate. We are convinced she is making up for lost time as she only knew two words at age 3.5 (in an orphanage). 😉 She LOVES to talk even though she still has an open palate. She wears an obturator (retainer) to block it and she talks all the time!!
Alas, I can’t say it gets any better… if she’s anything like me!
Silence is golden! So many are afraid of it! There is a time for EVERYTHING!
Love your journaling!
I do love the silence. That’s one of the best parts of my trips–I’m zipping down the roads of our country, usually around or after midnight, and there’s nothing out there–just me and the Lord. I can really take a deep breath and BE.
This blessed me today. I have been working on the be still before the Lord.
I have a hard time with this too. No surgery to blame, just like to talk, process through talking.
It is definitely easier to be still before the Lord on a trip with the glory of nature declaring his glory.
Selfishness has also been a theme with me. Recent trials are scrubbing away those pretty preconceived illusions of self-perception. Sigh, Lord only by your strength and wisdom and can I change. help me
Process through talking: THAT IS ME! LOL. Probably why I’ve always talked to myself. Still blame the surgeon, though. You know, since Mom and Dad do. 😉