words… but, what do they mean?

From the beginning I had a lot to say.  You can ask my parents and those who knew me.  They would confirm:  as a child,  I was chatty.

Okay, I was very chatty.

From my seat in the shopping cart, I’d sing “Jesus Loves Me” and I would speak to other customers in the aisle at the grocery store.  More than plenty to say, even verbose, I suppose.

As an adult I enjoy vocabulary study:  I think about the English language and I pursue understanding how it fits together.

Recently, on this life’s journey, I’ve come to realize how much words change with particular events.  I have a whole list of vocabulary that I’ve known most of my life,  but now on this side of experiences mean something totally different.

For instance: through my young life I heard words like labor and delivery.  But, it wasn’t until I went thru the whole process of giving birth and I held my precious Emily in my arms for the first time that I understood physically and emotionally what those words really meant.

Generally speaking the meanings of most words don’t change, but as we live life, often our hearts and minds come to new understanding…

Another example:  As my life has taken a few unexpected turns I’ve come to a particular realization that isn’t new, but the depth of its truth has literally seized my heart.   Think about the words to this old hymn with me for a moment:

I need Thee every hour, most gracious Lord
No tender voice like Thine can peace afford.

I need Thee, O I need Thee;
Every hour I need Thee;
O bless me now, my Savior,
I come to Thee.

I need Thee every hour, stay Thou nearby;
Temptations lose their power when Thou art nigh.

I need Thee every hour, in joy or pain;
Come quickly and abide, or life is in vain.

I need Thee every hour; teach me Thy will;
And Thy rich promises in me fulfill.

I need Thee every hour, most Holy One;
O make me Thine indeed, Thou blessèd Son

While I have known this hymn and I’ve sung it at church, I haven’t known what these lyrics meant.  Not really.  Oh sure, “I need Him.”  As a believer I would never say otherwise.  But, these beautiful thoughts have become something so different to me.  Over the past two weeks I have come to know :  I need Him every hour.    The hymn has been true since it was penned – the meaning hasn’t changed – I just understand it differently now.

I have needed Him all along, but I didn’t know it.  Not like I know it now.  

And these words from Scripture, some of my favorites: they have become a well-spring of life for my heart and mind, unlike anything I’ve ever known or needed before:

Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“Therefore I hope in Him!”

Make no mistake.  The truth is clear:  I need Him.  And it is by His mercy that I’m learning this life lesson and coming to grasp His faithfulness more fully and clearly.  Praise God that He has chosen to change my heart’s knowledge of who He is.   May I continue to draw closer to Him.

amen.