Back in 1959 when I was about to enter high school, the academic pressure was intense. Over 4000 students were enrolled at New Trier that year, and the school had been voted #1 in the nation for academic excellence. Many of the students went out East to Ivy League universities after graduating, and 98% of all New Trier students went to college somewhere. Facing my freshman year, I knew the going might get rough.
My parents decided to send me to summer school before I began the regular school year, in an attempt to give me a leg up. “At least you’ll learn your way around the building,” they said. And since it was a really big school, that was enough motivation for me.
I took 3 classes that summer: ceramics, speech, and trampoline. Two of them went well, but speech? It was agony.
Getting up in front of the class was bad enough, but I also sensed the teacher didn’t like me. I remember him well, because he had an unusual name: Mr. Pink. After my first speech, I knew for sure he didn’t like me.
I was still standing in front of the class when he gave me his critique. “Margaret,” he said, “some of us were born with voices that are pleasant to listen to, and others not. Yours is not.” And then he told me to sit down.
Maybe his mind had wandered during my speech and he couldn’t think of anything else to say, but I was embarrassed by his comment and shocked to realize I had a bad voice. If I hadn’t been required to deliver several more speeches that summer, I wouldn’t have uttered another word.
What a difference between talking in front of Mr. Pink and talking in front of God. When I talk to God, he doesn’t stop with just hearing my voice but listens to my heart as well. I can even converse with him without using my vocal cords. He and I can talk heart-to-heart about absolutely anything, and he hears me perfectly. His only concern is that I just say something to him, whether I use my vocal cords or silent thoughts. When I do, he promises to hear it all.
Later that summer I turned 14, and my parents’ birthday gift was a reel-to-reel tape recorder. I’d wanted one for a long time so I could record songs off the radio and also send taped messages to several faraway friends who had recorders.
But on the day I first listened to my own recorded voice, I discovered Mr. Pink had been right after all. I did have an unpleasant voice, and I didn’t like listening to it.
After that, I stopped worrying about his comment in speech class. And it certainly didn’t leave any scars, because I’ve been talking way too much ever since.
“The Lord does not listen to the wicked, but he hears the prayers of those who do right.” (Proverbs 15:29)
Dear Margaret, Good blog. We certainly don’t have to worry about our voice when talking to God. Totally unlike that insensitive teacher you had. And today (and all week) you’re talking on the radio! I was at work and heard only the beginning, but will listen to it all at home from Nancy’s website. You sound just fine and I’m looking forward to hearing the rest of the programs this week. I have no doubt that there will be a great response and that God will use these broadcasts and your words for blessing in many lives.
Ruth
Amen! I loved hearing your voice & your words of encouragement as you relived the “journey of life” you & your dear Nate walked through in 2009. You are blessing many by sharing your experiences so honestly as well as God’s loving care of you throughout! Thank you, dear friend!
I LOVE hearing your voice! It was really fun listening to you on NLDM yesterday. Thanks for your insight here… so nice to know God is never irritated when we come to Him. 🙂
Some voices are verbal and some are written. Your ‘voice’ is one of wisdom and grace, Margaret.
The Lord created you with the purpose of “voicing” encouragement to others around you. From the day we are born, the devil tries to steal, kill, and destroy the knowledge of who we are in Christ (our identity and purpose for living). That teacher was a vessel of the devil to give you a false belief system of yourself. Our heavenly Father lovingly creates each one of us with a voice that is uniquely different than any other, just like our fingerprints, which only He can recognize. He delights in hearing our voices give glory to Him in everything we say. “Whose report will we believe?” The Lord, who said that we are fearfully and wonderfully made or an anti-Christ spirit who will criticize the way we are made? We love hearing your voice Margaret.
You do NOT have an unpleasant voice. I could listen to you talk for hours and hours – and often have, as a matter of fact. Mr. Pink stinks!! 🙂
I’m in 100% agreement with all the above! I haven’t heard your broadcast yet, but I have ‘heard’ everything you’ve written.!
Love you!
How wonderful to know God made us and our voices too, all in praise of His good works! I join the chorus of people who love listening to your voice, Margaret! And I praise the Lord for wanting us to communicate with Him without ceasing!
I don’t think any of us like to hear ourselves talk, but how good to know God loves us and loves to hear from us. Thanks for your post.
Антицеллюлитный массаж – а также лечение Спондилеза, методом краниосакральной терапии , в Одессе и Одесской области в частности в Балта , украина , что делать если головные боли – http://korrektsiya-pozvonochnika.com.ua
Obviously I get behind in reading your blogs but I never delete one until it is read. It seems so strange that someone who has touched so many people thru the written word and this column have an “unpleasant ” speaking voice. It just shows how God can use what we give him. Thank you for your non-speaking voice.