The Quiet Game

In a stroke of genius, early in our daycare days, someone introduced my mother and I to the joy of 'The Quiet Game". Said with enough enthusiasm and the right inflection in your voice, any child can be enticed to play. The goal is to be the quietest for the longest period of time. If you talk...you're out. I LOVE this game. I will gladly play along with my daycare kids in order to encourage THEM to play. The competition can be fierce. Young and old alike can get caught up in the spirit of the game.

Every once and awhile, I get a stubborn kid who doesn't want to play. They ruin it for everyone. They go about their noisiness and it takes all the fun out of it for the rest of us. When the challenge is issued, they simply reply, "I don't want to play". It's hard to DEMAND that someone play The Quiet Game. If you're not willing, you simply don't win.

In the Quiet Game of life, I was always a loser. No one has ever used adjectives pertaining to silence in order to describe me. When I enter a room, most people are aware of my presence. I like to talk. I tend to be loud. I'd like to think of myself as social, but those closest to me will come up with less flattering terms of endearment for my boisterous personality. I'm surprised my mother's eyes weren't permanently affixed to the upward position. She rolled her eyes constantly at my behavior. My mouth moving was like fingernails on a chalkboard for the poor woman. I constantly got reminded that ladies were more subdued. I was encouraged to be quiet. Disappointment surrounded her efforts to raise a ladylike daughter with a subtle demeanor.

About 4 years ago, I attended a retreat where we were asked (it was implied that it was REQUIRED), to be silent through the evening. WHAT!!! Put me in a group of 50 women I've never met and then tell me to be quiet? What kind of torture was THIS???? The purpose was to still yourself and listen to God. Okay- I was on board with that concept, but it was HARD!!! I'm not sure I was 100% successful, but I did well for ME.

Since that experience, I have learned the benefits of quietness. I now seek quiet times. I actually look forward to the early morning (yes- this is new too!) before my family rises. At this time I feel closest to God, because I take time to listen to His voice. I can't do that when I'm barking orders and issuing directions for the day.

I'm learning to be a willing participant in The Quiet Game. I am no longer the youth that says, "LALALALA....I don't want to play!" Now, when God whispers, "Who can be the quietest?", I'm in the running to be the winner!