My throat looks like Rudolph’s nose and swollen, my sinuses are
protesting loudly like hammering tiny little fists against my skull, and
swallowing feels like I am forcing a fist down. I have spent most of
the past couple of days in silence and I think I’ve consumed at least a
gallon of hot tea a day.
I was supposed to speak Sunday morning but this cold stole my voice
and my energy, reducing me to a pile of bones and muscle dragging about
the house.
I know it may sound coincidental to some, but not to me. It seems I am always fighting for my voice. 
Soft spoken most of the time I often go unheard. When I speak, to my
ears, it often sounds loud, slicing the air, and hanging there
nervously, but to everyone else it’s just above the din and becomes lost
amidst the noise.
Funny how we can perceive things so differently about ourselves than what is true.
As a child I had a song for everything. Grandpa and I would sit in
the shade of the pecan trees and sing hymns together. When he was busy I
would sit on the swing for hours content in writing my own spontaneous
tunes. I proudly stood by him in the choir on Sunday mornings and sang
my heart out. Older now and a music lover, I am deeply conscious of my
pitchy, wavering voice so I tap out a rhythm instead.
At youth camp a counselor once told me God would use my voice. In
middle school someone told me how ridiculous I sounded. Guess who I
chose to believe?
Somewhere along the way the enemy stole my voice and the past few
years I’ve been fighting to get it back. As a daughter of the King I
have things to speak and they will be declared. I have songs to sing and
I’m not out to win American Idol anyway.
Someone may have stolen my voice, but I’m taking it back! Will you help me?
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I need to raise $1,100 a month for the next 12 months to continue
doing what God is calling me to do. You can be instrumental in helping
change the lives of university students in Ukraine. Would you consider giving to bring hope not just during this season but throughout the year. If you would like to
support my work there, please click here for more information.
Photo taken from St Vincent’s University Hospital
