He bends down to listen

I love the Lord because he hears my voice
and my prayer for mercy.
Because he bends down to listen,
I will pray as long as I have breath!

I enjoy some great relationships with children.

Often, if they are having a tantrum,

If I can make eye contact with them,

and ask what's wrong,

they usually calm down and explain the trouble.

It's not that others don't elicit the same response,

or others didn't ask “What's wrong?”

It's just that I bend down and listen.

I fix things for them,

or help them,

as if they are the only one in the room.

They know this about me

and my presence, calms them.

When I read this scripture,

I get it.

“I love the Lord because he hears my voice

and my prayer for mercy.”

Like, he's not distracted keeping the earth spinning,

or helping someone's football team win;

he hears my voice.

And he understands,

things are hard,

and I need him.

I usually have a good rapport with kids in public

(that I've never met)

mainly because I get down on their level and speak to them.

Rarely will I talk with them from the height of an adult to a child.

When I bend down, I am instantly nonthreatening.

I am a friend.

Usually I am greeted with twinkling eyes, and a wide grin.

God does that for me.

And “Because he bends down to listen,
I will pray as long as I have breath!”

How cool is that.?.

I see many adults on their phones or otherwise distracted

by important things

while their child is feeling frustrated,

scared, insecure or overwhelmed,

so the child gets louder,

and more scared and helpless feeling.

God bends down and listens.

He hears my voice and my cry for mercy.

So peace comes over me.

His strength, wrapped up by the will of his love,

are present and focused on me.

I'm not even sure how that's possible,

but I know beyond a doubt that it's true,

so like David,

I will pray as long as I breath.