Beautiful Silence

Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.  Psalm 62:5

When the body stops cooperating with the wants of the owner, it’s time for a break.  My mind was telling me to get up the hill to the car as my legs were saying, “Oh no you don’t.  We’re going on strike!  You haven’t done so much as a squat for a couple of months when you decided to ‘squat’ while playing in a creek for a few hours?  Ridiculous!  What were you thinking?  I’ll tell you what you were thinking.  Nothing, nada, zero, zilch.  Now, after that abuse, you expect us to get you up that hill, no, that mountain?”

Yes, these are the conversations that might take place in my head.  Please don’t send this to be analyzed.  Those legs of mine were being quite dramatic.  It was a slight incline and a very short distance to our vehicle.  They sure were complaining though.  I told the guys to go ahead of me and grab the food out of the back.  I was right behind them.

This gave me a couple seconds to continue that conversation that had been happening with my legs.  It was necessary for me to give them a good talking to.  After looking towards the vehicle with a bit of despair, I told them that there wasn’t a chance that we were going to continue standing there looking out of shape.  I figured even if I had to hobble slowly up the hill, I was getting my lunch!  Those legs were going to get a move on.

Apparently, I was a teensy bit out of shape…maybe.  Anyhow, once I reached the vehicle, I had a decision to make.  I could go back to the cold, dark creek or bask in the beautiful beams of the sun while being washed in warmth.  Usually, I’d want the adventure of heading back with the family.  That day, I gave into the whining legs and comfy vehicle.

The sun was shining straight onto my seat and it was a perfect December day in North Carolina.  I had a drink, snacks, and pen and paper with my bare feet poking out the window.  It was so incredibly peaceful, and the absolute happiness bubbling out of me was huge.  It was one of those times that it didn’t manifest in energy, but contentment.

I was breathing in the fresh air, watching the trees directly in front of me, and just loving life.  The quiet was nice and refreshing!  There I was with God wrapping me in a blanket of love.  Maybe I was escaping life for a while, but it sure did feel wonderful.

Sitting there in complete relaxation I realized I had a companion with me in my bliss.  There was a dog who had joined me.  We had an understanding.  We didn’t talk, we didn’t touch, we just shared space.  Me in the car.  The dog right beside me on the ground.

We shared that contentment together.  There was a bond that took place that transcended words.  We were just a human and a dog who were enjoying being close to one another without needing the “filler” of words and touch.  That dog would actually back off when someone would come talk to me and my focus turned to that person.  Very rarely would he be coaxed into a pet from someone.  He enjoyed that silence with me.

There’s a Spanish Proverb that says to open your mouth only if what you are going to say is more beautiful than the silence.  After feeling how that dog was choosing to be there because he simply wanted to share his space, silence was even more beautiful.  He wasn’t looking for anything else.  That dog wasn’t there for what I could give him.  He radiated such peace without treats, chatter, and petting.

I was feeling so very special and privileged to have this calm company with me as my legs relaxed and I enjoyed the time reclining there until that dog went back to his owner.  It was the best feeling!

It got me thinking that maybe I had found something God would want me to do with Him way more often than I do.  Prayer and listening in great expectation for words from Him is so important in communicating with God, but maybe, just maybe, wanting to be near Him without looking for anything except His presence would be quite a gift we should be offering more often.

Do I do that enough?  How often am I just inviting God into my space just because of who He is?  There are so many times that we go through something difficult and rely on God’s helping hand.  That’s great; we can trust Him!  Now, think about how beautiful it is to get quiet and simply share our space and be in contentment and peace with absolute joy simply because He’s there.

I challenge you to let all your needs and expectations go today and welcome God into your space.  Oh, what rest that would be, wrapped in God’s blanket of love!

Author: Kelly Girl

I'm a Christian, a wife, a homeschool mom of two boys, and I have a pet dog...a male. I'm outnumbered! I enjoy travelling and experiencing new things with my family, reading, and seeing God's creation in nature. View all posts by Kelly Girl