.....While giving his testimony on fast Sunday, Brother Shirley said "the sound of children in church is pleasing to God." Hearing this my mind drifted back to a time when I was young. I became so deep in thought, about the past, that I am afraid I did not hear the rest of Brother Shirley's testimony. The time I drifted back to was 1953 and I was sitting in church. The location was Vermont ward in Los Angeles. The sound of all the children crying, giggling, thumping and wiggling I found distracting and quite annoying. Being very young, reverent (I thought) and idealistic I could not understand why the parents did not keep their children quiet! Now that I have had children, grandchildren and even a great grandchild, I know that it is easier to put toothpaste back in the tube than it is to keep a young child quiet for more than few minutes. Bless their hearts, it is pure torture for a small child to sit quiet for more than a few seconds. Energy flows through children like water through a hose. When I was young I was a lot older but now that I am old I am younger and hear the sound of children as the sound of life. It is beautiful and I cling to it.
By now you are probably wandering what this has to do with the subject of this story, listening to God. You cannot hear God unless you let Him into your heart. While I was feeling self-righteous and annoyed with the children I was in reality pushing God out of my heart. Nothing pushes God out of your life quicker than judging others. This is why it is so important to resolve any annoyance, conflict or anger as quickly as possible so that God can move back in. Where love and forgiveness is God is close by.
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