Sweet Silence

Our electricity has been blinking on and off for a few days. Usually no more then 30 minutes and during the day. It is amazing how quickly life can come to a stop when we rely so heavily on electricity. I used to think think that the house was quiet if the TV or Music wasn't on. But I realized that the house is just loud with the hum of the washing machine, dishwasher and the ever present transformers. We have been able to expericence what true silence is.

The other night right as we were sitting down to enjoy dinner, our electricity went out. So, we finished dinner by candlelight! The kids were frustrated that we didn't have any lights to eat by. We spent alot of time discussing days past when there was no electricity, cars, lights, stoves and the like. The kids were amazed that people could live in such a way. After dinner we took our candles and went into the family room where we started reading a book called Hedge of Thorns. This is an amazing book that was written in 1611. It is a story of what happens when we go through the Hedges that God has placed in our path. Often we think these hedges are hindering our freedon and we desire deeply to know what is on the other side. But we don't realize that the Hedges may be there to protect us and provide security. We highly recommend this book!! I don't want to spoil it by telling you more!! If you read this book, please let me know what you think of it!!

It took us a couple hours to get throught the book, but we had nothing else to do in the sweet silence. Just minutes after we were done reading our book the electricity came back on. The kids quickly jumped up and turned them all off to we could finish our night by candle light. It was very refreshing. I thanked God that we did have a few precious minutes as a family to sit in silence as a family. We read most nights as a family but there was something special about that night!

I, Alecia, don't often sit in silence, in fact I don't like silence. Even when I am just scrapbooking I need a movie on or some music in the background. But the Lord has been gently reminding me to "Be still, and know that I am God" from Psalm 46:10. Part of being still for me is being silent! If life is too busy and too loud I can't hear the gentle calling of his voice!! How about you, do you enjoy sweet silence?