I have a problem. My problem is hearing the Word, and not doing anything with it. I like how it feels when some relishable word brushes past my ears that gets my attention for the moment. You see that's where the problem lies: in that moment. In that moment, I have the choice to allow that word to slip past my ears, resulting in the sensation of a tickle, or to allow it to be absorbed and taken in to my heart. Most of the time, I choose just to be tickled. I have discovered I have developed a fetish for being tickled. I am decieved if I believe that if am responsible to do something with a word only when I actually accept it and take it in, when in actuality, at the moment of my hearing it, I am made responsible for what I do with it.

Just yesterday, I had a smashing good time with a devotion, as well as with a quote I heard from a colleague. Not only that, I even had a devilishly good time some with words of encouragement given to me by my husband AND a friend. They all felt really good on my ears. I had a fabulous time with them.... for the moment that is. The problem is, that's where they stopped.

You see, this plethora of words never actually made it through my ears and down into my heart. Because they never made it into my heart, they never made it into my actions. Because they never made it into my actions, no change was made in my character, and I was not any better for hearing them.

Something a friend said yesterday really stuck out to me. I had passed along to her the same quote I mentioned before that I had gotten from a colleague (in hopes of tickling her ears too), except her reply was, "I'll take it to heart." Now, her reply could have been, "Wow, that was really good," or "I really liked that," or she could have just tucked it away for later use. Instead, she chose to take it to heart. She allowed it the time it deserved to be fully processed; choosing to allow it to move past her ears into her heart, and eventually into a part of who she is.

I was so challenged by her wise words and choice of action. Today, as I think back to all of the "hand-outs" God handed me yesterday, I can clearly see my dissatisfaction was due to the fact that I was more concerned with wanting to be "tickled" than to allow anything to have a lasting impression on me. As I look back now, I can see just how ungrateful I was! I was like a spoiled brat, always wanting more, never satisfied with what I was given.

A seed can't grow and bear fruit unless it's been planted. Once it's been planted in fertile soil and given the time, care, and attention it needs, it will bear fruit. Today I will choose to take some seeds to heart. Today, I make the choice to absorb. Today I choose to embrace the Word and allow it to be planted in me, so that it might bring forth a rich harvest in my character in the days to come.