This past week, we took Suzanne’s dad out for breakfast at the Cracker Barrel, in Urbana. As is customary now, I explained to the waitress that Suzanne was unable to eat solid foods and I ordered an orange juice for her. The waitress responded to Suzanne in a slow, distinctive, and very elevated voice, “would you like a water or straw with that?” To which, I shared that she couldn’t use a straw and would be fine with just the orange juice

After the waitress left, we both had to laugh; as Suzanne would say, “I can hear fine, I just can’t eat”. We’ve all seen the comedy where someone meets another person who doesn’t speak the same language. So realizing that they are not communicating well, they begin to speak very slowly, distinctly, and very loud. Like volume is going to fix the language issue.

This isn’t the first time she has experienced unexpected behavior from others. There have been a number of times since her surgery when someone who doesn’t understand her speech, comments to another that they just can’t understand her. This has happened many times within earshot of Suzanne; as she then thinks ‘I can hear fine, I just don’t speak well’.

Just like in your home, communication can be a struggle sometimes. Suzanne communicates with me fairly well but often finds herself in a reverse situation. When she speaks to me, in her head, she hears what she says to me perfectly fine; what I hear, not necessarily so. Sometimes I have to ask her to repeat what she said; Then, I’ll turn off the TV or shut off the running water and ask again. But the third time I ask, the response I get tends to be very slow, distinct, and can get quite loud. The bottom line is pretty simple, ‘I can eat fine, I just can’t hear’.

And he said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you.

Mark 4:24

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