Monday, November 8, 2010

Motivational Monday - "Thanks For My Voice"

Thanks For My Voice
by Thelma Brown

"This morning I would like to thank my Heavenly Father for my voice.

No, I don't have a beautiful voice for singing, nor the type for speaking that holds audiences spellbound, as many do.

 But I do have a voice.

It is an instrument I might use to teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ -- one that I might use to sing hymns and praise to my Father in Heaven; an instrument I might use when I stand upon my feet to tell the world that I know we are engaged in the work of the true church of Jesus Christ.

Yes, the Lord has been very good to us. He has given each one a voice, a talent, but if it is to become  great talent we must cultivate it. The Lord can't do that for us. First, we must realize that in our voice lies a talent, appreciate it and then go to work.

I am reminded of a story of a man who had lived fifty-six years. He had sailed along very smoothly through life with no tragic upsets. He had everything that money could buy. He owed no one and no one owed him, or so he thought.

One morning he woke up with a bad case of laryngitis and blaming it on the cold he had the previous week, began taking all kinds of cough syrup but to no avail. His voice grew steadily worse. At times it would boomerang back upon his ears, loud and harsh. At other times it would fade away. He was aware of his associates straining to grasp his words. Finally he consulted a physician. After many tests and x-rays were taken, the man was told that because of a dreaded disease, his vocal cords would have to be completely removed if they were to save his life.

This news came as a great blow, but not in full force until the night before the operation as he lay in bed thinking about it. 

Just imagine!

No more Good Mornings or Good Evenings;

No more cherry Hello's,

Just a nod of the head.

No more laughter would ripple through his throat when he saw something he was amused at, and enjoyed.

Just a smile on his lips

-- not even a song could ever be sung;

and he thought, how could a man live for fifty odd years and never realize how very precious the gifts are that God has given him, until they are to be taken away."


I am thankful for my voice that I can laugh with, speak with and sing with!

2 comments:

Scrappy Girl said...

A great reminder of how it is the little things that money can't buy that makes our lives more meaningful. Thanks for sharing!

Ann Marie said...

Something to be grateful for indeed!
I loved the story.

I am also grateful for people that recorded some of my ancestors speaking. I treasure the tapes of my Great Grandmother giving talks in church. When I hear them.. I feel like I am there.. with her.

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