The Sounds that Surround

Today, I stopped and listened. Listened to a million things that I hear every single day but often times I don’t take the time to really listen to what I hear.  I heard the sound of my children laughing and playing and pretending and I made a mental note to not forget that sound.  I heard the sound of dishes clinking as they were being washed, and the quiet whirling of my front load washing machine.  I heard the demands for this toy and for “what is mine” and “what is yours.”  But I also heard the resolutions without my interference.  I heard peace.  I heard the squeals of delight wrapped up in the words, “DADDY’S home!”, I heard my own voice loud and soft at different times throughout the day as it encouraged, loved, comforted,corrected and disciplined each of my kids at various times.  Then I stopped and I wondered what they hear daily.  What do these sweet, little beings hear all day long and more specifically, how do they hear my voice?  Sometimes,  I hear it encouraging. . . do they hear it that way? Sometimes I hear it correcting. . . do they hear it that way?  Do they  hear patience or do they hear frustration? Do they hear love or do they hear hatred?  Do they hear joy or do they hear self desire? Then I wonder how these daily voices they hear will paint a portrait in their own minds of who they are and what they are capable of as the years unwind before us.  For a moment I am overwhelmed with sadness at what they might hear and then I hear another gentle voice whisper to my heart, “It’s all grace precious one. “  I am reminded immediately and I am choosing today to embrace this truth.  I will never live a perfect day on this earth as a wife, as a mom or as a human being. It will simply never happen but the grace of God which has been extended to me as His child covers me and it stirs in me a desire to love Him and them even more.  So it's with this in mind that I silence my heart before my Heavenly Father and I listen for his voice.