March 23, 2014

The Shepherd's Corner

Sometime ago I shared with you my run-in with a couple of mentally challenged father and son at the YMCA where I usually do my swimming. The other day I happened to meet them again and this time I was even able to listen to their conversation—well, sort of!Sometime ago I shared with you my run-in with a couple of mentally challenged father and son at the YMCA where I usually do my swimming. The other day I happened to meet them again and this time I was even able to listen to their conversation—well, sort of!

The truth is I could not even make sense out of their conversation. Even though they spoke with a fairly loud voice but they could not enunciate the words clearly. Be that as it may, what intrigued me was that they obviously understood each other well. They certainly had no communication problem.

When I saw and heard what was happening, I smiled. I thought about the times Santy and I have had to argue over “I thought you had said that” kind of issues, in spite of the fact we have no problem enunciating the words. But, there was something else. I was also reminded of this beautiful truth: Our Heavenly Father understands, regardless of how few or unclear the words we utter in our prayers.

There are times we say our prayers clearly and eloquently. But, there are also moments in which we can only mumble, “Please help, Lord.” As far as God is concerned, it does not really matter. He can hear us and He will never misunderstand us. Like the lyric of the song “He” says, God can ever hear “a child’s first prayer.” He knows what is in our hearts and what matters to Him is that we come to Him—with many or just a few words.

There is actually one more thing that I noticed about this father and son: They never stopped talking! They just went on and on as if there was so much to talk about. I can only conclude: They are each other’s best friend! There is so much learn from them, isn’t it?

Pastor Paul

The truth is I could not even make sense out of their conversation. Even though they spoke with a fairly loud voice but they could not enunciate the words clearly. Be that as it may, what intrigued me was that they obviously understood each other well. They certainly had no communication problem.

When I saw and heard what was happening, I smiled. I thought about the times Santy and I have had to argue over “I thought you had said that” kind of issues, in spite of the fact we have no problem enunciating the words. But, there was something else. I was also reminded of this beautiful truth: Our Heavenly Father understands, regardless of how few or unclear the words we utter in our prayers.

There are times we say our prayers clearly and eloquently. But, there are also moments in which we can only mumble, “Please help, Lord.” As far as God is concerned, it does not really matter. He can hear us and He will never misunderstand us. Like the lyric of the song “He” says, God can ever hear “a child’s first prayer.” He knows what is in our hearts and what matters to Him is that we come to Him—with many or just a few words.

There is actually one more thing that I noticed about this father and son: They never stopped talking! They just went on and on as if there was so much to talk about. I can only conclude: They are each other’s best friend! There is so much learn from them, isn’t it?

Pastor Paul

More Shepherd's Corner Articles

Sudut Gembala - 23 Oktober 2016
THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER Last Wednesday Santy and I heard that Linda, her good friend who is undergoing cancer treatment in Singapore, is now in hospice care. There is nothing that the doctors can offer to her. But, what was encouraging was when she broke the news she sounded upbeat—no traces of di...
Read More
The Shepherd's Corner - May 2, 2021
In our latest Wednesday’s devotional time Santy and I sang, “All the Way My Savior Leads Me,” a song written by Fanny Crosby.  And I also shared with you how the song came about.  Fanny Crosby was an exceptional woman; despite her blindness she went on to write over three thousand hy...
Read More
The Shepherd's Corner - April 16, 2023
The other day Santy and I took our grandchildren to Target to buy toys because the birthday of one of them happens to be in April.  I noticed their biggest struggle was to say “no” to themselves.  It was obvious that they wanted to purchase more than one toy and had to resist the tempt...
Read More