Set Apart Sounds

I have a triangular dinner bell that hangs on a column near my kitchen.
It was not used to call my family to dinner, since I didn’t have it then.
I actually bought it to call the women who come to my home for Bible study.
I always have coffee or tea and something baked so they can fellowship for a while.

However, I needed a way to let them know we were about to begin.
It was a gentle way to say, It’s time!
My voice was not loud enough to get their attention while they were talking to each other.
The bell had a sound that was set apart from the din of conversation.

I have a cast iron bell on a post outside my laundry room door.
That bell was used to call my children when they were playing in the neighborhood.
It was better than yelling their names, or whistling loudly, which I cannot do.
The cast iron bell had a sound that was set apart from the clamor of play.

I now have a small hand bell that I bought for Bible study at church.
With fifty women, I and the other leaders needed a way to call them into the sanctuary.
I carry the bell and go out into the foyer and ring it.
The small hand bell has a sound that is set apart from all the other sounds vying for attention.

I love the sound of a ticking clock.
I know that not everyone likes that sound, especially at night when they’re trying to sleep.
I find it comforting to hear the ticks and the tocks marking off the seconds and minutes.
I find the sound of a clock so soothing.

We get so used to noise; we need a sound that is set apart in order to get our attention.
Dissonant music is not enjoyed by everyone.
Nails on a chalkboard can send shivers down our spine.
The loud whir of a motor with a bad ball bearing can grate on our nerves.

The sound of a child’s laughter is contagious.
A beautiful voice soothes our soul.
The sound of rustling leaves and grasses calms our spirit.
The sound of geese honking overhead reminds us of the change of seasons.

God has given us the gift of sound.
Sounds that He sets apart to wake us up to the profound beauty all around us.
Sounds that we easily miss because everything else is just too loud.
Sounds we become so accustomed to, we miss them even though they are right within earshot.

In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice;
in the morning I lay my requests before you
and wait expectantly. (Psalm 5:3)

I cannot imagine being God.
God hears the prayers of His children at the same time, as if there was only one of us.
To God, our prayer to Him is a sound that is set apart.
He can hear each prayer perfectly and completely.

God gave us the gift of sound.
Our prayer, which is simply talking to God, is a gift to Him.
Our prayer is an act of worship.
God, the Giver of sound, delights to hear the voices of His children.