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five minute friday

Yes, it's already Saturday morning.

That doesn't mean anything, really.

I'd still like to link-up at the Gypsy Mama, so I'm going to.

The word of the week: voice.

My voice rises, gets louder, then at the breaking point, gets really quiet.

"No te escucho," my students say. They look at me, quiet down, and I begin again, with my volume so low that they must strain to hear me over the hum of the air conditioner.

It's so loud that most of the time I can't hear myself think.

Between the excitement of doing science experiments and the fair and halloween and birthdays and the promise of so many fun things, it is not until I am very quiet that my students finally start to hear me.

My voice; when I use it the right way, is a tool for learning. It is a tool for encouraging, a tool for loving.

When it gets loud, no one can hear it.

When it is quiet, people lean in to listen.

Not only in the classroom, but in life, in general.

I don't want to hear those who are loud at me, trying so very hard to be heard. I want to hear the voice of those who wait to speak, who wait to have my attention, who are interested in making sure that I hear clearly the importance of what they say.

And I want to hear, clearly, that still, small voice, reassuring me, encouraging me, loving me, that comes from above.

Comments

  1. KellieOctober 27, 2012 at 5:36 AM

    this is great! i find the same thing about volume. the quieter i talk the more my kids listen. it's so interesting. talking quietly helps others to hear our voices. getting quiet helps us to hear His. love it.

    ReplyDelete
  2. susanwalkergirlOctober 27, 2012 at 9:42 AM

    Eli,

    Thank you for the reminder that people don't hear our shouting. It seems when I shout I'm trying to force people to hear me. Perhaps there are times when instead I need to be quiet and let the Lord guide my words. May I incline my ear and wait to hear the Lord.

    You have some keen observation that you shared in your post.

    ReplyDelete

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