There have been several videos going around on Facebook and the internet lately of babies and children getting cochlear implants. These videos make me tear up EVERY TIME!
A cochlear implant system helps restore the sense of hearing for people with severe sensorineural hearing loss. Most of these kiddos have never experienced a single whisper of a sound, and when this device is implanted a whole new sensory world opens up to them. It’s so emotional!
What I love about these videos is that on every single one I have seen, the first thing that comes from the mom or dad’s mouth is “I love you!” It’s not a thought out, pre-planned speech but rather an instinctual outpouring of emotion. It’s simply the first thing that comes to their mind that they want their child to hear!
It makes total sense. I think you and I would do the same thing. If our child could only hear one sentence from us, we would want it to be, “I love you!”
I mean, who would say, “Why couldn’t you hear me?”
Most of us will never know what life is like without the ability to hear. But the reality is that many of us can go far too long choosing not to listen to the voices in our lives that matter most. We can all think of examples of mistakes we have made by not listening to a close friend, spouse, boss, etc., but what if we are overlooking the most important voice of all; the One who is continually calling our hearts to Him.
What I know about Jesus is that He wants those who have never chosen to listen to His voice to hear Him. He wants to have a relationship with not just the people who sit in church on Sunday, but everyone. His voice is not exclusive but all-inclusive; yet, in our pride or our hustle or our frank stubbornness, we choose not to listen.
The most incredible thing happens, though, when we choose to tune in, when we choose to listen. He doesn’t say, “Why could you not hear me?” He whispers, “I love you.”
No matter what you have done or how long you have been ignoring that ache that says there is more, His words will not change. He doesn’t want to chastise you for not acknowledging Him earlier or condemn you for your past. He simply wants to say, “I love you.”
So, if you have never listened for His voice, pray that you would hear His heart. Seek Him out. He loves you. It’s the first thing that He would want you to know. HLLF – Melissa
