Today I want to explore the difference in "having a voice" and "being heard." 

In my life I knew I always had a voice.  When I hit forty, I started using it a whole lot more then when I was twenty-two. I had not "discovered" my voice at that young of an age.  I felt more at ease in speaking my mind later in life.  I had thoughts and opinions, I realized, that others didn't share or didn't want to hear.  (Maybe that is why I had remained silent for so many years.)  And when I turned 44 and saw that my own family were the very ones who didn't want to hear my opinions and thoughts, and didn't regard them as important as their own, I realized something was terribly wrong!  I was walking along, unaware that I was not a complete person.  I was forced to comply with the thoughts and wishes of everyone around me. It wasn't as if I couldn't or wouldn't compromise.  I just wanted my voice to be valued and "heard."

There was a period of time I was in limbo.  I knew I had a voice and could speak, but I was still in unchartered territory.  I didn't know how or when to use that voice.  And more importantly, I wasn't sure if I was being heard.  I brought people into my life who I believed were listening. But I realize now that the majority of them were just listening.  They were not truly "hearing" my voice that was struggling to discover it's own identity.  How do know this to be true?  When I said something "deep" or profound , I would get a perfunctory, "uh-huh", or "ok."  Or even worse, "But, this is how I see it...."  This is not what my heart longed for!

Then....something amazing happened (which I am still praising God for). I met someone who not only heard my heart and my "voice" but encouraged me to use my voice in any way possible to express my heart. I have discovered I have so much to say and it feels wonderful to actually "let it out" in a way that may, in some small way, bring honor and glory to the One who gave me that voice.  I can actually speak with my mouth, write on paper, or on the computer.  No matter how, when, why, or what I have to say, my voice IS important.  The Lord gave me this voice to be heard.  And in doing so, I will make some mistakes along the way.  I will hurt some people (unintentionally).  I may even embarrass myself.  BUT....I will never be able to effectively get used to using my voice and having that voice heard unless I practice and have someone who will allow me to make those mistakes and bring me back around to using  it in a wonderful, encouraging, uplifting, and fruitful way.

Thank you so very much my dear friend (you know who you are).  I will be forever grateful for your kindness and wisdom.