A few years ago someone I knew, maybe like a half-friend, which is like a half-brother, a friend of a friend, had a croaky voice, kind of raspy with squeaks in it. (Wow?! Can you speak normal?) Every time he spoke, it made my inner ear get irritated. (Is this a human voice?) It took getting used to. I half did. I don't know if at some point I moved past the toleration stage.

Then, he died suddenly.

I prayed for him, as I do, and you know what I felt? His quirky voice, I really loved. That scratchy voice turned into a kindness characteristic I began to miss. It became my love for him. It was the one thing that made him stand out. Because it rattled my inner being, that made it all the more adorable.

From this I learned a valuable lesson. Those people I meet who are idiosyncratic, who have an odd character, who pinch my normalcy nerve, those people, I now want to love more. They mean more. They help me expand my small heart. They, too, are human beings; they, too, are like me, only I try to hide from the public my quirks.

Yesterday, as I was walking out a store, I saw a lady walking in. Immediately, I felt a joyful, natural humility from her. It touched me. Then I saw her face. The skin around her mouth had bubble blood sores. It's called melanoma. I felt love, so I continued to smile and nod greetings. With such a face, it is hard to be comfortable seeing it. This must have affected her self-being. How difficult.

Yet, a simple, humble demeanor emitted from her. She honestly impressed me as peaceful and genuine. Her heart must have been ground up many times, and yet she located peace with God and safe keeping with human beings.

Those kinds of people have a special place in the heart of Heavenly Parent, who wishes, as a parent, for all her children to grow well and have a good life.

It is so easy for me to dismiss people. But the heart of God does not.

Everyone has their story, their dilemmas in life. Those things that make one's digestion feel like chicken bones going down a garbage disposal, those very things ought to be treasures. Instead, they will come to me and I will welcome them, because I know they will be my sour-tasting vitamin to grow my character of heart, expand my mind of heart, and introduce me to the unseen heart of my neighbor.


​9:20 AM, September 9, 2026, Wednesday