Are We Listening?

Willow asked her Mum, while I was travelling in the car with them, “Which world is Pa in now?” Because Pa had been travelling a lot and moving from place to place, we all did not know where he was at any certain time. The different countries, to Willow, are different worlds.

As Willow’s sixth birthday approached, I remembered this conversation. I found a map of the world with a compass and stickers of landmarks of the world such as the Pyramids, the Eiffel tower, the Himalayas, the Taj Mahal, the Grand Canyon, Uluru etc. and animals like whales, dolphins, kangaroos, eagles, moose, deers, bears, giraffes, elephants etc.

She could learn about the different countries (‘Worlds’ to her) within the one world and learn to know where her Pa was, when we pointed it out. As I saw the delight on her face when I gave her the gift, one of her Aunties leaned over to me and said, “Where did you get that idea from?” I smiled and said, “I just listened to her conversation.”

A few days later I was reading my daily scripture. I heard the Lord in the words of Isaiah speak to me.

Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good,
and delight yourselves in rich food.
Incline your ear, and come to me;
listen, so that you may live.
Isaiah 55:2b-3 NRSV

This word ‘listen’ brought to my mind Willow’s gift – the map of the world. If I had not listened, I would not have thought of the idea of the map. Willow would not have received that gift but something else. Something that may not have given her so much delight.

If I am not listening to the Lord, who tries to speak to me, to us, often about our lives, I cannot see so often the gifts He desires to give to me. I am the one who misses out because I give pleasure and glory to my God when I respond to him.

God listens to us. He hears the conversations we have publicly and privately within our hearts. He desires to guide us, to provide for us good gifts, ones we desire. To eat what is good. To delight in the rich foods He gives to us.