I am very thankful that I grew up without a radio, tape player, or television set in my room. I am also glad that I did not enjoy reading for entertainment or for an escape from reality. My home life made it essential that I spend a lot of time in my room and I learned to enjoy and gather strength from being still when I was very young.

My parents were not Christians but my mother, who had grown up in a Baptist orphanage, made sure that I was on the church bus so she and dad could recover from their Saturday nights or drinking and bar hopping. I am thankful that from an early age I was able to learn a lot of truths about God and His Son Jesus Christ. As I sat in my room---alone and still---these truths, stories, and songs afforded me sweet peace, wonderful rest, needed strength, and a precious understanding that I was unconditionally loved and somehow safe from all harm. ("...in quietness and confidence shall be your strength...."Isaiah 30:15

My quiet times had become an important part of my life by the time I accepted Jesus Christ as my Saviour and they have grown increasingly precious with each passing year. For me it is a time when I seemingly crawl up on my Abba Father’s lap and let Him cover me with His feathers as I sigh, "Daddy." My quiet time is my special time to tell God how very much I love Him, and/or a time to remember who He is: His word, His character, His names, His unqualified love, mercy, and grace for me...for me! Or, and sometimes and, it is a time to let my Abba Father dry my tears, relieve my fear, quench my anxiety, strengthen my faith, heal my aching heart...or just "HUG" me.

Lord, thank You for ministering to me as an unsaved child (Hebrews 1:14) and for teaching me the blessing of being quiet and still in Your presence. And thank You for Your Words that compel all of Your children to learn to enjoy the quiet. ("But we beseech you brethren, that ye increase more and more; And that ye study to be quiet..." I Thessalonians 4:10b-11a)

                   "Blessed quietness, holy quietness,

                         What assurance in my soul!

                On the stormy sea, He speaks peace to me,

                         How the billows cease to roll!"

Sharon Merhalski

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