The ride began and I could tell Ryan didn't like it. He was trying to tell the attendant to "STOP!" But...because it was supposed to storm, the crowd was sparse and the attendants were giving extra-long rides. They were champs and I knew it would be the one ride they'd talk about for weeks. The surprise was that all of the rides didn't require as many tickets as we thought and they could ride one more ride. But the best surprise came when I told them they could have FUNNEL CAKE! They don't normally get to eat grains or sugar, so it was a special treat. Their first question was, "Did Momma say we could eat this??"
I was downstairs the next morning, but my door was open and I could hear the kids as they began to tell their mom & dad all about the carnival. They were excited and very animated. I was laughing to myself because the main topic of that conversation was the dreaded roller coaster. I couldn't hear every word and was tempted to go upstairs...but I knew it was a parent-child moment. So instead...I inclined my ear. I was listening as intently as I could. I wanted to catch every word and nuance of that conversation. After all...I had initiated that memory and delighted in that time together...and was delighting hearing them tell about it.
Later, that morning, I was reading Psalm 116:2 and it says, "Because He has inclined His ear to me, therefore will I call upon Him as long as I live." I immediately knew what that meant! God inclines His ear to me--He wants to hear every part of my conversation. After all, He created me, He made the plan that is my life, and He delights in me. He is inclining to hear what I have to say about it. (He's also journaling about every word I think or say about Him. Malachi 3:16) He inclines His ear to me.
I began a practice after that day. I began inclining my ear to Him. I've always tried to spend time hearing God, but this is different. I stretch my hearing to heaven to hear what He is saying to me or about me. After all...He delights in me.
Amazing what you can learn from taking grandkids to the carnival.