Tuesday, November 28, 2006
How good it is...exclamation point!
“A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, and a word spoken in due season, how good it is!” Proverbs 15:23
In human relationships, spoken words are very important. Often times, actions can be misunderstood. Perhaps someone appears to act angry, but they are really in pain; or someone smiles and looks “happy” but they are in fact embarrassed. True thoughts cannot be communicated by actions alone.
An incident in the early years of our ministry here in Taiwan illustrates my point quite well. I taught a Bible lesson on the love of our Heavenly Father and wanted the children to relate God’s love to their parent’s love. I asked, “How many of you know that your parents love you?” No hands went up. “Don’t your mommy and daddy ever say ‘I love you’?” No hands were raised. Those children did not know they were loved because they had never been told! I took the time then to guide them in recognizing signs of love such as their parent’s care and provision of home, food, clothing, and so on. But what a shame that they had never been graced with the gift of three words: “I love you.”
Today I found a wonderful treasure, a gift that I had not expected to receive. In searching for some computer files saved on disks, I came across one labeled, “Sue’s voice.” I immediately put the CD into the disk drive. It was a phone conversation recorded in May, 2004…two very precious voices to me. I wasn’t home at the time and Malcom on a whim had turned on the digital recorder so that I could hear their conversation later. Before the conversation ended, Sue sang out, “Mom, I love you!” Those were words spoken in due season. One month later she was in heaven.
Many of the gifts that we give are things with no lasting value, just stuff to clutter our homes. Things are nice to have, but how much sweeter to bless our family and friends with the joy which comes from words that edify. While we are at it, let’s also remember to talk to the Lord and express our words of love and adoration. Make sure that today someone knows they are loved. How good it is!
In human relationships, spoken words are very important. Often times, actions can be misunderstood. Perhaps someone appears to act angry, but they are really in pain; or someone smiles and looks “happy” but they are in fact embarrassed. True thoughts cannot be communicated by actions alone.
An incident in the early years of our ministry here in Taiwan illustrates my point quite well. I taught a Bible lesson on the love of our Heavenly Father and wanted the children to relate God’s love to their parent’s love. I asked, “How many of you know that your parents love you?” No hands went up. “Don’t your mommy and daddy ever say ‘I love you’?” No hands were raised. Those children did not know they were loved because they had never been told! I took the time then to guide them in recognizing signs of love such as their parent’s care and provision of home, food, clothing, and so on. But what a shame that they had never been graced with the gift of three words: “I love you.”
Today I found a wonderful treasure, a gift that I had not expected to receive. In searching for some computer files saved on disks, I came across one labeled, “Sue’s voice.” I immediately put the CD into the disk drive. It was a phone conversation recorded in May, 2004…two very precious voices to me. I wasn’t home at the time and Malcom on a whim had turned on the digital recorder so that I could hear their conversation later. Before the conversation ended, Sue sang out, “Mom, I love you!” Those were words spoken in due season. One month later she was in heaven.
Many of the gifts that we give are things with no lasting value, just stuff to clutter our homes. Things are nice to have, but how much sweeter to bless our family and friends with the joy which comes from words that edify. While we are at it, let’s also remember to talk to the Lord and express our words of love and adoration. Make sure that today someone knows they are loved. How good it is!
4 Comments:
Thank you! It reminds me that we have to say "I love you" on time.
Suzanne
WE often must ask: What does this matter in the light of eternity? And often, our things and works are as filthy rags. May we have a grateful heart for He who spoke the world in place, but knows us by name!!
Wow! That is such good stuff. How are you doing my friend? We prayed specifically for you during our office prayer time today.
Carole Miller
I am praying for you--hoping you will post soon just to know you are ok and that God is doing something special in your life right now!
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