Song Of The Stone

Speak, for your servant is listening.

1 Samuel 3:10

Simon Verity is a master stone carver who honed his craft restoring thirteenth-century cathedrals in Great Britian. With each careful blow of his chisel, Verity listened closely to the song of the stone. A solid strike indicated that all was well. But a higher-pitched ping meant that a chunk of rock might be ready to break off. He constantly adjusted the angle of his blows and the force of his mallet to the pitch, pausing frequently to run his hand over the freshly carved surface. Verity knew that one wrong move could cause irreparable damage to his work of art. His success depended on his ability to read the signals being sung by his stones.

In a similar way, parents need to listen to the "music" of their children, especially during times of confrontation and correction. It takes patience and sensitivity to discern how your child is responding. If you listen carefully, your boys and girls will tell you what they're thinking and feeling. 

Scripture says, "Let the wise listen and add to their learning" (proverbs 1:5). By listening and honing your craft, you too can become a master carver who creates a beautiful work of art in your children.

...How well do you and I listen to the "music" of our little one's?

...Do we actually know what they are thinking and feeling?

...What more can we do to create a beautiful work of art in our kids?

(Night Light for Parents: James Dobson)