Devotions

For he has not ignored or belittled the
suffering of the needy. He has not turned his back on them,
but has listened to their cries for help.

- Psalm 22:24

Instead of driving, I decided to walk to the library after lunch. An elderly man in front of me had stopped to look at a motorcycle parked on a front lawn.

"Hello," I said. "Be a good day to ride that bike."

That's all I said. The man started talking. Within minutes I learned that he and his terminally ill wife lived in a building next to the library. An aide was caring for his wife, and this allowed the husband a few minutes away from the apartment, but not from his problems. "The hardest part," he said as tears flowed, "is that she understands everything I say to her, but she can't talk, can't even ask for a glass of water."

Usually I talk and want to fix things, but I heard a voice within me say, “Listen, just listen.” When we said goodbye at the library, I knew the One who understands our sorrows had arranged this encounter. I felt joy knowing God had used me. Since then, I’m a better listener.

Sometimes we love best when we just listen.