Month: July 2025

The older I get, the more I appreciate the way I was raised and the loving, nurturing parents who did it. The first two things they taught me were, there is a God and you aren’t Him.They also taught me to always be kind and polite, showing respect for my elders and those in authority. They said every “thank you” should convey true appreciation. I have enjoyed a 71 year relationship with God through Jesus Christ. I still respect my elders, but at 82 it is getting harder to find them. Kindness is still automatic and every caregiver leaves my home feeling appreciated. I also appreciate my wife with whom I shared unconditional love for more than fifty years.

A while back, I heard the true story of a 10 year old boy from Atlanta, Georgia. His parents were atheists, but his grandmother took him with her to Sunday School and church every Sunday. One summer morning, he was playing in his front yard when a stranger pulled up and started a conversation. Suddenly, he grabbed the boy, threw him in the back of the car, locked the doors and drove off. He drove and drove for three hours with that scared boy in the back seat. The boy remembered a song he learned at church and began to sing. “He is here. Hallelujah He is here. Amen! He is here. Holy! Holy! I will praise His name again! He is here. Can you hear Him as He’s calling out your name? He is here. You can touch Him, You will never be the same.” He kept singing louder and louder as the driver screamed louder and louder for him to stop. Finally, the driver pulled over, opened the back door and yelled for him to get out. The boy ran to find a policeman to help him get back home. Back in Atlanta that evening, a TV reporter interviewed him and asked how he was able to escape. With a knowing smile he answered,”When you praise God, He listens.”

My friend, whether you take it from that boy or this old man, you can be sure when you praise God He will listen and free you from whatever else that is trying to control you. So set aside a special time each day to praise and thank Him for all He has done and continues to do in your life. You will be so glad you did.