My husband Ted snores.  I think many of you know this fact already because I may have mentioned it before.  He had a sleep study done and now sleeps with a bi-pap machine so he can sleep better and more quietly.  If he falls asleep on the couch, however, he does not have his bi-pap on.  And he snores.   Sometimes very loudly.  Ted works hard and many times does not get enough sleep, so when this happens in the early evening I try to ignore it and let him get his little nap.  Even though the noise of his snoring makes my shoulders rise up and I want to muzzle the poor guy, I try to leave the room – and leave the noise behind.  The other night his snoring was SO LOUD that I grabbed his phone and turned on the video camera to record about three minutes of his sawing, snorting snore sounds.  I wanted him to hear what I hear.   After Ted woke up, I told him that I captured the moment of his snoring concerto on video.  Later, I saw him intently listening to himself in snoring action.  He was very quiet and almost in awe at what he heard.  He had always listened to me comment on his horrendous snoring and this was the first time he actually heard it for himself.

Sometimes people don’t listen.  Well, they think they are listening but they don’t really hear what is being said.  So many times I find that people just like to talk and talk – and even when I ask a question or put in my own two cents to the conversation, they still keep babbling without acknowledging in any way whatsoever that they heard me.

Hearing problems can sometimes be the reason you aren’t heard.  I have to laugh, though, when people who haven’t really heard what I say decide to answer it like they have heard.   Many times the answer is so inappropriate to the question.  Like when you tell Grandma over lunch how “After lunch I need to run to the store,” and she replies, “Oh sure – you want some more?”

People are sometimes just too busy to listen.  I have learned through the years to not share interesting news with Ted if he is preoccupied with the computer screen in front of him.  I will get a “Uh-huh” from him to acknowledge that he heard me talking, but he didn’t really HEAR what I said.

Psalm 4:3  But know that the Lord has set apart the faithful for himself; the Lord hears when I call to him.

Thank goodness God hears us.  He is always listening.  Even when we yell at Him – He hears.  I’ve even had times when I have no words to describe my anguish and I look to Him and say simply, “You know my heart, Lord.”  He never misinterprets.  He knows.  And he’s never too busy to listen.

He knows my name
He knows my every thought,
He sees each tear that falls
and hears me when I call.
(lyrics from the song ‘He Knows My Name’)

Just Laurel

(written for Judy B. – God hears you.  1 John 5:14 If we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.
Prayers for you for strength.  Love you.)