It's really funny. Jesus regularly ends his parables with the phrase, "He who has ears, let him hear..." (look in Matthew 13 for two examples). For me, this is really funny as I no longer have an hear to hear with. As a result of a really nasty ear infection, I can't hear out of one ear. I never valued the ability to hear until I lost it. I am hoping that it will return when the infection leaves and I will once again be able to listen without pain.

As I was contemplating how valuable my hearing is, I also began to think of how many other valuable things I take for granted. While I have literally lost my hearing, I have not figuatively lost it as referenced by Jesus. I still have been given the ability to read God's Word and listen to wisdom. I have been given a mind that can contemplate and discern God's desires, callings, and will. I am free to grow in knowing God. And for that, I give thanks.

We all can give thanks to God for the abundance of gifts we've been given. You have been blessed with life and love. God has promised you both of these. Although we have been given many others, these two alone are well worth our gratitude. Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, even when allowing pesky ear infections. God Bless.