A Noticer Moment: “Speak English!”
Sitting at their Pops’ feet, our grandchildren were excited to hear him reveal our plans for the day. He had the girls’ full attention. Three-year-old Sully was nearby, in his own little world, and he could hear every word.
But just as Pops was about to give them their choices, he playfully began speaking gibberish.
“Yack-mah-tay, ee-wah, moh-mah, meh-deh-moh.”
The children’s reaction was immediate. They jumped up, ran to Pops, and repeatedly pleaded, “Speak English! We can’t understand you!”
Watching their reaction, I suddenly realized something.
People may be willing to listen but they can’t respond to a message they don’t understand.
The girls wanted their Pops to speak their language because they were eager to hear what he had to say.
I wonder how many adults are listening when we talk about Jesus, then quietly turn off our words like water from a spigot - almost without thinking - because they can’t make sense of the message we’re sharing.
My grandchildren spoke up. Many adults don’t. They won’t interrupt us and ask for clarification. They’ll just smile, nod, or check out of the conversation.
Pops teased the children with another round of gibberish before he changed his words so the girls could grasp what he was saying and make a decision.
Our plans for the girls didn’t change; only the way Pops communicated them did.
Jesus’ message never changed, but He certainly changed His illustrations depending on His listeners. He often used the ordinary things of everyday life - bread, lamps, salt, a door, money, even the weather - and wove them into eternal truths that people could understand.
When telling others the greatest story ever told, let’s use words that are easily understood.
“Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying?” ~ 1 Corinthians 14:9
(Paul was talking about the use of spiritual gifts in the church, but here’s a takeaway: Effective communication is understood communication.)
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