A SACRED SPACE
  • Welcome
  • Joy in the Morning
  • Sacred Prayers
  • Pause & Ponder
  • About the Author
  • The Books

Learn to Listen

10/20/2011

0 Comments

 
Joy in the Morning

Be merciful (sympathetic, tender, responsive, and compassionate) even as your Father is [all of these].                                                                                                                                                  Luke 6:36 (Amplified)  

Hello Friend,

            I wish I were a better listener.  In college and seminary I had a myriad of counseling courses and I aced them all.  Great grades in listening—in a classroom situation—at home, not so much.  For example, a few months ago my son called and asked to come to dinner that night.  That was a little out-of-character for him, but, of course, I was delighted to be in his company.  After dinner, he wanted to share something at work that had him greatly distressed.  His job is high-pressure and I often worry about his blood pressure.  So I did what any good mom would do, I tried to problem solve.  I asked, “Have you tried this?  What about this approach?”  I offered many solutions that seemed to fall on deaf ears.  Finally, in exasperation, he exclaimed, “I just wanted you to listen.”  I had failed Mothering 101.

            What about you?  Are you a good listener?  Do you take time to hear the pains and hurts of your loved ones, friends, or co-workers?  Some of us avoid upset people at all costs.  Others listen with one ear and surf the internet at the same time.  Or, some listen and become so upset themselves that you have to console them.   Finally, many of us listen and become judgmental in our hearts.  This listening is difficult to master in real-life situations.  In my mind, I imagine that Jesus is the best listener of all.  When I speak with Him, I know that I have His full attention.  He isn’t looking around trying to get away—just doesn’t fit with my Savior’s character.  And He doesn’t judge or condemn.  From Jesus, I learn the greatest gift I can offer another is the gift of acceptance.  I don’t like to be told what to do, so I going to practice not giving unsolicited advice.  This course in listening is hard, but with Jesus as my teacher I slowly learning.  Are you going to enroll in this course in listening?  There’s room in this classroom for more students.

                                                                      Shutting my mouth and opening my ears,                                                                                                                                    Linda
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

New post

Photos used under Creative Commons from FotoGuy 49057, Artotem, wildrosetn39, Matthew Paul Argall, kencf0618, The Linen Lavoir, Tony Webster, judy dean, irio.jyske, inkknife_2000 (7 million views +), France1978, wuestenigel, rkramer62, T.Kiya, fishhawk, 3loomi.4ulike, bazadwalker, DaPuglet, focusonmore.com, Klausiee, Juanjo+Willow, YLegrand, Dimplemonkey, shorts and longs, Mon Quixote, ewan traveler, Charlón, LiteWriting aka Loreen72, OC Always, [Duncan], jvanpelt, FutUndBeidl, Grand Canyon NPS, Waiting For The Word