An Observation

He quietly sits and listens while you tell your stories - stories of personal failures, stories of frustration and anger, stories of hopes and dreams that you hold near to your heart, stories of struggles that you have, stories of the past and the present. As you talk he simple sits and listens. He waits patiently for you to finish, to have your say. Then, when you are done, he looks at you and with gentleness he imparts wisdom. He gives you good advice and offers comfort - not comfort that is tangible, but so very real nonetheless. He assures you in the things you do that are right and encourages you to press on in making right decisions. He seems to never tire of telling you the truth and helping direct you in the right way. His voice is full of love and gentleness and his eyes are tenderly pleading with you to listen to him. There have been times when I have wondered if perhaps my voice was not a noisy gong or grating sound to his ears, if my complaints and annoyances were not like a house guest that has overstayed his welcome. If they are he does not let on that it is so. I have wondered if he ever notices that he gives the same advice over and over again when it often goes unheeded. Does it bother him that he offers the same answer to the same question each time it is asked? Does he ever get tired of his role? If he does, he does not show it. He has more patience that just about anyone else I have ever met. I have on occasion seen him loose his temper but it was only after it had been provoked numerous times without cessation. I must admit, when I step back and observe him I am in awe of the qualities I see but I know that those qualities did not come easily. They were worked at over years of hard trials and many testings. They are the refined products of a Master Refiner. I have my own trials and testings that seem to be almost nonstop, and many times I wonder what if anything they are accomplishing. I do hope, though, that one day I will be able to look back at where I have been and where I am and realize I have at least some of the same qualities I see in him. It would be a blessing indeed.