My Hearing-Day #8 of Thanksgiving

Our ears are often assaulted by loud noises such as 

lawn mowers, blowers, TV, radio, concerts, aerobics class, and hair dryers.
Please, dear ones, protect your hearing with ear plugs
when your environment is clobbering your ear drums.
Mom says I'm preachy.

In my job, I have learned how important hearing is

to peoples' ability to learn to speak 

and to use their communication skills.

One day at a professional development seminar,

the presenter, a Speech Language Pathologist, asked us 

which we would choose, if we had to:

Being blind or losing our hearing.

One by one, my colleagues said they'd choose to lose their hearing.

As they answered, 

I began to make a mental list of things I would never hear again:

my husband and children say, "I love you!"

the Hallelujah Chorus,
Christmas & Easter hymns,
concern or joy in a friend's voice,
the waves on the ocean,
rustling leaves, rain on the roof,
a crackling wood fire,
the Beatles, Beethoven, Bach, and Wagner,
Oklahoma, the King & I,
and my first Grandbaby's voice.

It was my turn.
All eyes were on me.
I told them I'd choose to be blind.

Perhaps I am more keenly aware of how
profoundly hearing loss can impact people.
My Mom and my brother have both worn hearing aids for many years.
Even though the aids have significantly improved their ability
to follow and carry on conversations,
they say it's still a challenge
when there's background noise.

So thank You, Lord, for my hearing.
I'm so thankful that You always hear me.
May I always have ears to hear You.

The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
and His ears are attentive to their cry...
Psalm 34:15
I [Jesus] tell you the truth, whoever hears My word
and believes Him [God] who sent Me has eternal life...
John 5:24
This is the confidence we have in approaching God:
that if we ask anything according to His will,
He hears us...
1 John 5:14
Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;
Let us come before Him with thanksgiving...
Psalm 95:2

Grace to you, my friend.
Love, Karen