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

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