The Whisper Test

Mary Ann Bird was born with multiple birth defects. She was deaf in one ear, had a cleft palate, a disfigured face, a crooked nose, lopsided teeth, and garbled speech. She suffered not only from her physical impairments but also from the emotional trauma of being different from others.

"I grew up knowing I was different, and I hated it. I was born with a cleft palate, and when I started school, my classmates made it clear to me how I looked to others: Just a little ugly girl."

"When schoolmates asked, 'What happened to your lip?' I'd tell them I'd fallen and cut it on a piece of glass. Somehow it seemed more acceptable to have suffered an accident than to have been born different. I was convinced that no one outside my family could love me."

One of her worst experiences at school, she reported, was the day of the annual hearing test. The teacher would call each child to her desk, and the child would cover first one ear, and then the other. The teacher would whisper something to the child. This was the whisper test. If the teacher’s phrase was heard and repeated, the child passed the test. To avoid the humiliation of failure, Mary Ann always would cheat on the test, secretly cupping her hand over her one good ear so that she still could hear what the teacher said.

There was, however, a teacher in the second grade whom the children adored: Mrs. Leonard. She was short, round, happy, a sparkling lady. Something about her made children feel valued and special. They wanted to please her.

"Mrs. Leonard gave the test to everyone in the class, and finally it was my turn. I knew from past years that as we stood against the door and covered one ear, the teacher sitting at her desk would whisper something, and we would have to repeat it back -- things like "The sky is blue" or "Do you have new shoes?"

I waited there for those words that God must have put into her mouth, those seven words that changed my life. Mrs. Leonard said, in her whisper, "I wish you were MY little girl."

It was a transforming moment for Mary Ann. It changed her life. She began to see herself in a new light. Later she would go on to be a teacher, seeing herself no longer as deformed but as a person who has inner beauty and love to share with others.

Imagine the power of words that you use. Do you use them for life or death?

Proverbs 18:21 says, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof."

Indeed, words do make a difference in a person's life. They either edify or tear down. What are you saying to your spouse? Children? Friends? Strangers?

In John 6:63, Christ goes even further in talking about His Father's words:

"It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life."

Peter wisefully recognized who Jesus Christ was. When others were abandoning Him, Christ turned to him and asked if he planned to leave Him as well.

"Peter answered, "Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life." (John 6:68).

Reader, knowing that God's word bring salvation and eternal life, what are you waiting for? Turn to Christ now. Read further here: The Plan of Salvation.

Every Bitter Thing Is Sweet

Proverbs 27:7
"The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet."

When I read this chapter on Sunday morning, this verse jumped out at me. And, the first thing I thought about was drug addictions.

You see, people who use drugs fall under 2 general categories: those who are bored and those who are in pain.

As to the first group, people who are satisfied with life (ie, referring to the full souls of verse 7a) and all its offerings tend not to have a place for Jesus Christ. Their attitude is, "I don't need religion." Sadly, they're missing the point. What they need and don't have is a relationship with Jesus Christ. Thus, they go through life getting their fill and loathing the goodness of God's word, which is referred to as being sweeter than honey in Psalm 119:103. On a full stomach of worldliness, they hate something as simple and sweet as honey. As a consequence of their self-satisfaction, these people become bored (Proverbs 27:20). And, idleness leads to selfishness (Eze. 16:49). It's in that boredom that people start experimenting with drugs.

On the other hand, the 2nd group of people are hungry. They're starving and will eat anything, even if it's bitter. These people are in obvious pain and will go to any lengths to fill their hunger. You see, they are in pain (physical, emotional, etc.) and need to dull their ache and misery. And, if the bitter thing is what fills the hungry soul then so be it.

A telling and stark account is found in the Parable of the Prodigal Son. You see both conditions in the young man. Consider these verses:

1. "And [Christ] said, A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living."  Luke 15:11-13

Here we read that the young man lived it up, whooped it up and raised Cain (pardon the pun) until he ran out of funds, as it were. With his inheritance, he lived the fine life, became satisfied and delved into an ungodly lifestyle. Why? Because his soul was full!

2. "And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him."  Luke 15:15-16.

Now we find our fine young man is lacking basic resources and is so very much hungry that even the the corn husks intended for the pigs looked delicious to him. You see, friend, even the bitter things are sweet to the hungered soul!

Reader, are you struggling with some addiction today? Be free of it once and for all by surrendering and submitting to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. He will set you free (John 8:32). You won't hunger or thirst for things of this world.

Look at what Scripture promises:

John 6:35"And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst."

Rev. 7:16-17
"They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes."

Friend, isn't it about time for you to turn your hungry soul over to the Lord Jesus Christ for nourishment? Aren't you yet dissatisfied with life and its offerings? If so, now's the time to look to Jesus for your true satisfaction. You've been reading post after post in this blog and have heard the Good News time and again. The day is far spent and tomorrow is not promised.

Please settle this matter now. Don't leave this website without first getting right with God through His Son, Jesus Christ. Here's how: The Plan of Salvation