“Hear my prayer, O God;
Give ear to the words of my mouth.” —Psalm 54:2 (NASB)

There are few things more annoying than being near a parent who is ignoring a child. How often have you witnessed a little one, tugging on a parent’s shirttail, incessantly repeating, “Mommy! Mommy! Mommy!” or “Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!” to the apparent oblivion of the parent? It drives me nuts. I want to stalk over, shake the parent by the shoulder, and fuss. “Will you please pay attention to your child!”

Aren’t you grateful that our Heavenly Father doesn’t treat us that way? We always have His attention. He is ever mindful of our circumstances, our needs, our joys and sorrows. He pays attention to every little thing.

A few years ago, my mom had to have tests run on her heart. Before I left the office to join my dad and brother at the hospital, I asked my coworkers to pray. Everyone offered sweet prayers for peace, guidance, and wisdom. And then one of our senior staff prayed for healing and that whatever Mama needed would be provided. He said, “If she needs a plumber, send her a plumber.” We all chuckled at that.

At the hospital, Dad, my brother Matt, and I were gathered waiting for a report from the doctor. When he finally appeared, he wasn’t the doctor Dad was expecting. This was someone new. He introduced himself and said that he had been called in as he was a specialist. He said, “I’m the resident Roto-Rooter man.”

I almost choked. A plumber. God had sent a plumber. I felt the corners of my mouth twitching, and I tilted a gaze toward heaven. Our God has such a sense of humor. And I was again reminded that He listens. To everything. No detail is too small or insignificant for His attention.

I’ve been convinced of this ever since I was young. When I was in my 20’s, I dated a sweet fellow who, sadly, was not a believer. I had been feeling more and more uneasy in our relationship but hadn’t yet made the decision to break up with him. One phone conversation convinced me.

I told him I was going to get my hair cut and I had been praying about it. He laughed at me. “Ev, God doesn’t care about your haircut.”

I disagreed. First, if I care about something, I believe He cares—even if He only cares that I care! Second, if He knows how many hairs I have, wouldn’t it matter to Him what happens to those hairs?

“But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.”—Matthew 10:30 (NASB)

Perhaps that sounds like a silly reason to break up with someone, but that conversation served to point out how different we were in the most important issue in life … faith. God knew I was struggling, and He used that little conversation about a haircut to nudge me in the right direction.

One more little story …

As you probably know, my sweet mom passed away on April 30 of this year after a valiant battle with Alzheimer’s. I miss her terribly, but I try not to dwell on it. I know she is healed, whole, and unspeakably happy … and I’ll see her again. But I do miss her encouragement and knowing that she was always praying for me.

Last week, Sue (my “adopted” little sister) and I were at Dad’s sorting through closets. I came across Mama’s blue jacket. I remember her wearing it, and I slipped it on to see if it fit. It did, and I put it in the pile of things I wanted to keep. When I got home, I was gathering laundry and grabbed the jacket to throw in the wash. Ah! Remember to check the pockets! I found a handkerchief in one pocket and a piece of lined notebook paper wrapped around a bundle of some sort in the other pocket. I unwrapped the paper to find a few business cards, a list of medications she was taking, and an appointment card for a haircut. Nothing there to keep. But then I smoothed out the notebook paper to find a few words written in one corner in Mama’s familiar writing …

May the Lord
bless you in
amazing ways.

Oh, my.

God not only hears the words I say, the words I pray, but He hears the unspoken words of my heart. Don’t get me wrong. I understand that the little paper had been in that pocket for several years, because it’s been a long time since Mama was able to carry on a conversation and even longer since she had been able to write. But it’s the timing that’s the miracle … and the fact that only the Lord knew how much I still long for her. When I read those eight words, I can hear her voice.

I encourage you to be attentive to the ways the Lord reveals that He hears you and understands your heart. Trust me, He pays attention to every little thing.

“For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.”—2 Chronicles 16:9 (NASB)