But sometimes there . are . no . words.
We dig deep and try to find them, but they are not to be found. Illusive they have become. Our wells brim over with deepest sorrow or the most profound joy ever. And we look for a way to express where we truly are.
But tongue-tied we have become.
It seems that only the most articulate among us can harvest those gems, the gifts that beg to be spoken, articulated, shared, offered up. The rest of us are left to simply be still.
And savor all that's truest in our hearts.
And lift up hands that are heavily laden with some of the most profound, awesome emotions we've experienced on this journey here on earth.
For those of us who have not been gifted with the tongues of angels or a gold-encrusted pen, we can only offer our feeble musings as a living sacrifice to the One who sees those unformed, unexpressed thoughts and emotions that whirl and swirl, that end up permanently engraved on our hearts.
For His eyes only.
And when all is said and done, we understand once again that more often than not, it can be quite a magnificent offering to let our words be few {Ecclesiastes 5:2}.
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Well-said, Linda.
ReplyDeleteBesides, no one ever learned anything with their mouth open.
http://blessed-are-the-pure-of-heart.blogspot.com/2017/04/your-dying-spouse-299-seriously-my.html
Ain't that the truth ...
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Sometimes there ARE no words ... but a lifting of the heart towards Him is always in order!
ReplyDeleteBlessings to you, my friend.
Kind of neat that a lifting of the heart can be completely wordless yet oh so powerful!
DeletePraise God.
This post reminds me how some people speak and process out loud. That can be good or bad. Sometimes words are not needed and taking time to truly listen and process is okay. I fall into the latter category. I want my words to speak truth and lift others up so if there are no words in that situation it is okay. Ecclesiastes 5:2 says it well. Thank you for this!
ReplyDeleteFor those of us who are or have been verbal processors ... it makes me wonder how much we've missed by not talking first and foremost to the Lover of our Souls rather than whoever might be available at the time.
DeleteJust wondering ...
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Sometimes the indescribable is just that: Indescribable! Even those of us blessed with the gift of the written word are at a loss. It reminds me of the scripture that tells us when we don't know what/how to pray, the Holy Spirit will groan out our wordless needs.
ReplyDeleteBlessings, Linda!
Yep ... sometimes we've got words and sometimes we don't. I'm good with that.
DeletePraise God for the gift of the Holy Spirit ... interceding, groaning, translating all that swirls and twirls in our heads!
How blessed are we.
"Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." Romans 8:26 Blessings on your week, dear friend.
ReplyDeleteAmen to Romans 8:26!
DeleteThanks for putting this sweet verse on the table, June ...
I need to learn that sometimes fewer words are much better than word-vomit. And much wiser.
ReplyDeleteWord-vomit.
DeleteDescriptive, unpleasant ... and true, Bill! And we're seeing a whole lot more of it as social media begs and pleads for more and more of our time and energy.
Joining you in saying 'no, thanks.'
Beautiful, my friend, and are these evidences of your gift for painting as well? Hope your life has been touched much by His love and grace. It has been busy here for me, but I love reading your posts and catching up with you as I can. You will discover I mentioned you in my post today!!
ReplyDelete* 'catching up with you as I can' *
DeleteYour words have been such a gift to me today, an answer to the question I've been pondering on how to navigate blogging even as life is shifting and changing around here.
Truth. Grace.
Thank you, thank you, Pam. And for the shout out over at your place!
Wow. Simply awesome!
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DeleteI resonated with Martha's comment as was thinking too how grateful I am that the Holy Spirit intercedes for us when there are no words. Communications really isn't all just words is it? I'm thankful for this for more often than not I'm grappling to find the right words to express and come up short! But that's okay....
ReplyDeleteYou are so spot on, Lynn. It's ok.
DeleteThat grappling is whispering some kind of invitation to us, isn't it ...
I so identify with you that sometimes there are no words, Linda. As I read this, I was thinking of the same verse others were - Romans 8:26. It is often a comfort to me when my heart feels heavily burdened, but I have no words to say even to God. What a priceless gift that He groans, He knows, and He understands what we can't even understand ourselves. Thank you for helping me to reflect on this today. Love and hugs to you!
ReplyDeleteThanks for reflecting with us, for sharing Scripture, for encouraging us with your own faith walk, Trudy.
DeleteLinda, thank you for this. I had the opportunity to visit my childhood home in Alabama and have significant contacts, stories of the "and-now-for-the-rest-of-the-story" variety. We were running around for 3 days, and I just couldn't seem to settle down to write and finally one night prayed "Jesus, let me remember what is important." I am full of stories and yesterday put aside time to start journaling and knew I was writing from my head - I don't know how to explain what it felt like to see the first church my daddy preached at being active again because a Circuit court Judge in the county courthouse had a such a burden for this little closed church sitting there, that he and his wife reopened it 11 years ago, and I got to meet him and he let us in the church and my little 5 year old self remembered this little church. maybe I could just write that. (by the way, the judge who now preaches there as a lay minister is Ashley McKathan, the south alabama judge who had the 10 commandments embroidered his judicial robes, because his colleague at the state capitol was told to remove the 10 commandments from the courthouse and he was so disturbed, putting on his robe was his response. He is that pastor who loves those people. ok, maybe I just wrote from my heart! thanks for listening.
ReplyDeleteOh Carol, thank you for sharing your stories, your memories, your observations here with us today.
DeleteI feel so honored that you'd feel safe enough to do so.
Sabbath blessings to you, friend ...
I know I have trouble with letting my words by few. I want my actions to be all people need!
ReplyDeleteah ... for that sweet balance! Faith without works {and words} is dead, isn't it.
DeleteMay we know when to speak and when to be still. Discernment.
Yes, that's what we yearn for.
And to be heard.
Beautiful words for the time when there are no words. Thank you for expressing this so beautifully, and poignantly. I love the pictures you shared with your thoughts too.
ReplyDeleteI so enjoyed snapping those pics of a mural on the side of an Annapolis city home ...
DeleteSo lovely and compelling. I had to linger just a bit.
What an eloquent and beautiful way to put into words what so many struggle with, Linda. Some are gifted in writing or speaking--wielding words with precision and beauty. I was thanking God that I have that gift of writing because God has so blessed my life because of it--through my prayers, I mean. And that seems to be where you are going with this. I agree that God doesn't care how well you say or write your prayers. What matters is that we run to our Father's arms with all of our concerns and cares.
ReplyDeleteI do hope you are doing well, my friend! Hugs to you from across the many miles! And when you walk on the beach next time, please think of me. I would love to walk alongside you there, so that's the next best thing! ;-)
Hey Beth, yes, it's beach walking weather ... but only if wrapped in many layers, topped with a blanket. What a sight I make!
DeleteAnyway, yes, you've spelled this all out beautifully. I'm absolutely agreeing that anything we do of value is because of prayer and God's blessings and grace.
We encourage each other to explore how best to live this out in whatever season we find ourselves in. For while He never changes, we do. And He smiles.
Hi Linda! Isn't so true that we can always see the heart behind the words, whether they are flowery or few?
ReplyDeleteI know your heart shines through your writing, and that is a wonderful gift. We all may not have that, or as you say, the gift of comforting words, but we can be that loving presence. Maybe the words are few, but the love is always there.
Sunday blessings my friend,
Ceil
'That loving presence.'
DeleteAmen, Ceil. That's who we want to be, that's where we want to be. How that pans out shifts and changes over time, and that can be a very good thing.
Thanks for hearing the musings of my heart, friend ...