Proverbs 7:24
Now then, my sons, listen to me; pay attention to what I say.

That's funny. I was reading my devotions today and realized that God quoted me. Very strange. This phrase gets said a lot in our home when I'm talking to Parker and Will. See, they just turned nine and so they are getting dangerously close to that age when their ears will begin to filter out anything that sounds like a parent's voice. I know it's coming and so I'm trying to, as Barney Fife would say, "nip it in the bud."

God knew how we were. He knew that our natural tendancies were to move our heads up and down, mumble things like, "Hmm," or even laugh when we think the joke is over. God knew that all of us have a knack for listening, but sometimes we fail in the actual hearing and understanding department. I can't imagine any of you have ever actually turned your back on a friend when he was talking with you. No. That would be rude. Instead you look blankly at him while he talks and you think about a million other things, then you hope you answer correctly when he asks you what you think.

The wise father who wrote this proverb knew all this because he was writing under the inspiration of God. So he gave all of us a great tip. Listen AND pay attention. It's the same as when I reach down and touch Parker or Will on the shoulder and say, "This is important. You need to listen. Don't get distracted, I really need you to hear me right now." It sasys 2 wonderful things to me: first, we serve a Heavenly Father who does whatever it takes to put us in a position to really hear His truth, and second, I just need to do a better job of listening and paying attention.

Did you get that? Hello, are you listening?