Go Find Quiet

Little Nevada was a walking genius at the ripe old age of 4.  Her mother, Beatrice, aka Beatty knew there was something special about her when she started talking in full sentences at the age of 2-1/2 one night when she was about to put her to bed and she busted out and said:  "Mommy, Me don't wanna go to bed now".  Beatty turned white as milk, except nobody could tell because she was a beautiful navy blue sistah who loved the extra helping of melanin in her skin.  It spooked her because it sounded like someone else speaking other than her quiet little sunshine, Nevada whom she also affectionately called Vada.  The full extent of her vocabulary from approximately six or seven months old up to the time she started speaking in full sentences was basic: Mommy, Daddy, Bah-bah; no; eat-eat; night-night, etc.  Beatty was so concerned about Vada’s inability to speak that she sought the advice of a specialist who advised there were no signs suggesting speech challenges and that Nevada would start talking when she was ready and that's exactly what happened, clearly out of the blue.

Vada used Beatty’s smartphone almost as well as she did but to ensure she didn't run up her data plan or access her social media apps again, she turned on parental controls as a precaution.  Vada started recognizing words at 3-1/2 and now she could text pictures; simple phrases and emoticons to Grammy Freda and Grappy Owen and a few other select friends and family.  She couldn't read everyone's name yet but she did recognize the pictures associated with their names so it made it easier for her.

Beatty’s schedule required her to get up at the crack of dawn to prepare for work and if applicable review and/or complete homework before waking her sunshine.  Because she wasn’t a morning person she waited as long as she could before waking her because once she was awake, she asked questions and talked nonstop to the point it was, at times, overwhelming to hear all that chatter or answer questions that early.  Vada was the complete opposite of Beatty, she seemed to pop out of bed each morning eager to face a brand new day complete with a brand new set of questions about every and anything.  If she wasn't asking questions she wanted assistance with reading; a partner to play a game; dance or sing with but in those times when Beatty couldn’t participate, Vada would talk to herself and/or her imaginary friends so loudly Beatty might as well participate.  At first it used to irritate her to no end and she would make negative comments to her like: “Shut it, okay; Hush now Nevada, Ennt, Ennt; Stop asking so many doggone questions; Get out of here with all of that noise”.  But this past Holiday weekend they went to visit with Grammy and Grappy, and Grammy Freda, overheard Beatty: “Nevada it’s too early in the morning for your mouth, Hush; Shut-it, etc.  This didn’t sit well with Freda, so she waited for the right opportunity and skillfully suggested alternative language to what Beatty was using that wasn’t so aggressive.  Beatty felt like a $6.00 sell out because she didn't realize her comments were so harsh.  The last thing she wanted to do was crush her sunshine's spirit so she took her former mother-in-law’s advice to heart.

Make no mistake, teaching Nevada balance was important but it wasn’t OK to crush her spirit with negative words.  Freda's mother wit was amazing.  Her suggestion when Vada was about two years old to set a regular consistent 8:00 pm bed time freed extra study and/or chill time for Beatty but it also gave Nevada the extra time for rest which was one of the reasons she was probably so bright and cheery in the morning.

The following Monday morning, Beatty woke her little sunshine up with a kiss on the forehead as she gently caressed her navy blue face and gently told her it was time to wake up.  She opened her eyes and was pleasantly surprised to see Beatty smiling, which reminded her she needed to go and brush her teeth and wash her face before speaking a word (thank you Grammy).  But as soon as she finished she made a bee-line for the kitchen, breakfast and morning conversation or a minimum of 12 questions.  By the time she was done with breakfast she was up to at least 25 questions.  Just as she was about to tell her to “Hush”, she remembered Grammy’s advice and said: “Nevada, go find quiet”.  She looked at her as if she had thrown a bucket of ice water in her face.  She was completely stumped and after about 10 seconds she said:  “Mommy, where do I find quiet?”  To which Beatty responded, “use your imagination, now go on, go find it.”  Nevada got up from the table and commenced to look for quiet with as much tenacity and enthusiasm as she asked her questions.   From that point forward anytime Beatty felt overwhelmed or needed a break, she would gently tell her sunshine to go find quiet.

Let's take a closer look at those three short words:

Go: to move or proceed, especially to or from something; to leave a place; depart; to keep or be in motion; function or perform as required

Find: to come upon by chance; meet with: to locate, attain, or obtain by search or effort; to locate or recover (something lost or misplaced); to discover or perceive after consideration: to gain or regain the use of

Quiet:  making no noise or sound, especially no disturbing sound; free, or comparatively free, from noise; silent; restrained in speech, manner, etc.; saying little; free from disturbance or tumult; tranquil; peaceful; being at rest; refraining or free from activity, especially busy or vigorous activity; making no disturbance or trouble; not turbulent; peaceable.

Have you considered Grammy’s advice – go find quiet?  Let’s examine the quiet types:

God’s silence:

• God, do not be silent! Do not be deaf. Do not be quiet, O God. (Psalms 83:1 NLT)
• God, whom I praise, don’t stand silent and aloof (Psalms 109:1 NLT)

The dare:

• Who can argue with me over this? And if you prove me wrong, I will remain silent and die. (Job 13:19 NLT)

Reverence, Awe and Respect

• But the LORD is in his holy Temple. Let all the earth be silent before him.” (Habakkuk 2:20 NLT)
• Be silent before the LORD, all humanity, for he is springing into action from his holy dwelling.” (Zechariah 2:13 NLT)
• From heaven you sentenced your enemies; the earth trembled and stood silent before you. (Psalms 76:8 NLT)
• But the people were silent and did not utter a word because Hezekiah had commanded them, “Do not answer him.” (2 Kings 18:36 NLT)

Self-imposed (takes discipline, will power):

• Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before.  1 Thessalonians 4:11 (NLT) (KJV says: And that ye study to be quiet) It is an act of discipline to live a quiet life, mind your business and work.  Which leads me to believe it takes not thought to be loud, boisterous, noisy, insensitive, eager to hear the dirt on someone’s life, lazy, etc.  You really don’t even have to come up with a plan for any of the later
•  Don’t sin by letting anger control you. Think about it overnight and remain silent. (Psalms 4:4 NLT).  To hold your tongue when you could otherwise go off takes a lot of self-restraint but it becomes easier as you practice the art of quiet (silence)
• But Jesus was silent and made no reply. Then the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” (Mark 14:61 NLT) 
• Jesus prepared himself prior to his appearance before the High Priest by finding quiet in the Garden of Gethsemane.  I realize it may not seem that way because he prayed alone with such fervor that his sweat was mixed with blood.  That alone time prepared him for the act of being purposefully quiet before his enemies when the time presented itself.

  

I’m way over my time, Go Find Quiet, or don't, it's left up to you

Because of his undeserving favor,

Tania not Tanya