• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Tara Johnson

sharing stories through writing, speaking and singing

TwitterLinkedInFacebookYoutubetara@tarajohnsonstories.com
  • About Tara
  • Blog
  • Books
    • All Through the Night
    • Where Dandelions Bloom
    • Engraved on the Heart
    • Hollow Victory
  • Speaking
  • Singing
    • Songwriting and Everything In Between
  • Writing
    • Writing Fiction
  • Gallery

When Silence Isn’t Golden

November 9, 2018 By Tara Johnson 2 Comments

I’ve recently spent the past few weeks on voice rest. After finding a massive yeast infection and a cyst on my vocal chords, my doctor insisted on medicine and as little speaking as possible for three weeks. It was frustrating to say the least, but I learned several lessons I pray I won’t forget.

Lesson #1: There are so many ways to communicate. I’ve always known this, but I never truly understood that 90% of communication can be passed along with body language, mouthing, facial expressions, signing, writing, and everything in between. I feared being unable to speak for weeks would be unbearable. I actually learned I speak far too much, and don’t spend nearly enough time listening. I’d like to break my talking/listening time into thirds: 2/3rds of my time listening, 1/3rd of my time talking.

Lesson #2: When I needed to whisper, everyone else whispered too. 

It’s an amusing study in human behavior but when someone whispers to us, we automatically react in kind. There were so many people whispering to me, I thought I was in a nonstop slumber party.

It was an important reminder: the way we behave is reciprocated. Anger begets anger. Fear breeds more fear. Love births love.

Lesson #3: Being unable to speak is incredibly lonely. 

When I was out shopping, running children to appointments, and everything in between, friendly folks would attempt to strike up a conversation. Once they learned I couldn’t speak, their countenance fell. Their gaze would flicker away and they would stand beside me in silence. I wanted to shout, “I’m not deaf! I can still hear you. Please, don’t shut me out because I can’t respond the way you want.”

After reflecting about it for a few days, I realized most were concerned with what they could glean from the interaction. Once they realized the conversation couldn’t be reciprocated, they moved on.

The whole experience has given me a greater compassion for the deaf and mute, for stroke patients and others trapped in worlds of silence. Just because a person can’t verbally respond to me, doesn’t mean they aren’t craving connection. Pushing past our comfort zones may be another person’s lifeline.

Lesson #4: God draws us close in times of isolation.

Yes, during the weeks of illness I felt lonely, but God continually reminded me that being lonely is far different from being alone. He is always there. He doesn’t always remove us from our circumstances because He’s more concerned with trying to mold us into the image of His Son through our circumstances.

In that instance, silence is golden indeed.

 

Filed Under: Walking with God Tagged With: deaf, isolation, loneliness, mute, silence, stroke, voice rest, what I learned in silence

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. AvatarJanet Holm McHenry says

    November 9, 2018 at 10:19 pm

    Wise reflection, Tara. Praying you find complete healing soon. Blessings!

    Reply
    • Tara JohnsonTara Johnson says

      November 11, 2018 at 2:55 pm

      Thank you, sweet Janet!

      Reply

Leave a Comment Cancel

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

sidebar

Blog Sidebar

Get to know Tara . . .

Writing

Writing

Speaking

Speaking

Singing

Singing

Free gift from Tara!

Join Tara’s email community and you’ll receive a FREE short story, In the Shadow of His Wings.


Subscribe to our mailing list



FREE Book Club Kit


Click HERE to download your FREE book club kit for All Through the Night.

Where Dandelions Bloom

Where Dandelions Bloom 360X570

Engraved on the Heart
Click to view purchasing options for Engraved on the Heart.

Latest Blog Posts

What’s up with the Christian Cliches?

  • Cracked Pots
  • What I Learned in the Darkness
  • Shattering the Fairytale: When Perfect Isn’t Enough
  • Where Have All the Good Girls Gone?

Click to read more . . .

Reader Reviews:

Jocelyn Green

Engraved on the Heart by Tara Johnson

“Lovers of Civil War fiction will rejoice to add Engraved on the Heart to their collections.” Read more “Jocelyn Green”

Award-winning Author

Robin Lee Hatcher

Engraved on the Heart by Tara Johnson

“Tara Johnson delivers a stirring tale of danger and hope.” Read more “Robin Lee Hatcher”

RITA and Christy Award winner

Sarah Sundin

Engraved on the Heart by Tara Johnson

“Engraved on the Heart brings Savannah, Georgia, during the Civil War to life.” Read more “Sarah Sundin”

Award-winning Author

Laura Frantz

Engraved on the Heart by Tara Johnson

“Johnson weaves a tale of selflessness, and service . . .” Read more “Laura Frantz”

Author

FREE Blog Updates!

Enter your email address:

Meet Tara

Tara JohnsonTara Johnson is a writer, singer, speaker and passionate lover of stories. Tara uses fiction, nonfiction, song and laughter to share her testimony of how God led her into freedom after spending years living shackled to the expectations of others. She lives in central Arkansas with her husband and children.

Trailer for Engraved on the Heart

Copyright © 2021 Tara Johnson. All Rights Reserved. | Contact

Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Sitemap | Disclaimer | Contact