I’m guessing you have probably heard the saying, “Talking is sharing. Listening is caring.” I hear that every now and then, and recently I saw it posted on a sign somewhere. Unlike many other well-known sayings, this one really is on target.
In one of the devotionals that I sent out to my subscriber list I wrote about a rough time in my life that I was going through and how God’s Word had been a great comfort to me. When I wrote that devotional I had no idea that I would get such a warm response from readers. I had calls from friends and emails from readers that I don’t even know personally. Many of them told me that they were there for me if I wanted to talk to someone.
Just knowing that they took the time to email or call, and that they cared how I was doing, really meant a lot to me. By doing that I knew that my friends and readers had truly listened to the message of my devotional, and they cared enough to show it.
Our lives are crazy, always going straight from one thing to the next with little time to think or relax in between. In these busy times in which we live, many of us are not as committed to listening as we should be. It’s easy for us to be like this, but making some changes in our habits can make a big impact for others.
When you listen to someone else it shows that you care and that you value them. You show that you care enough to give them your time and attention, and that can mean a lot. Listening helps to build stronger, deeper relationships, and it brings two people closer together. By listening to others we can show them God’s love.
Throughout the four Gospels we read stories of Jesus listening to people. In most cases these are average, ordinary people that wouldn’t get the attention of religious leaders of that day. In other cases they were prominent people, like Nicodemus. Nicodemus was a Jewish leader that talked to Jesus about the miracles He was performing and His teaching of the people.
In the book of John we read about Jesus listing to “the woman at the well” She was a shamed and sinful woman that he encountered at the well. Other religious leaders would have never thought to give her any attention, but Jesus did. None of the things that mattered to other leaders of that time (such as gender, religion, status, profession, etc.) stopped Jesus from listening to someone. He demonstrated an amazing model for us to follow.
Thank you, dear friends, for your care and concern. I want to let you know that my unpleasant event was resolved as well as it could be, and there has been reconciliation. Thanks for caring! Thanks for listening!
Lord, thank You for giving me amazing friends and family that care about me. Thank You for using them to show Your love. Help me to be as willing to listen to others as they have been willing to listen to me.
Ann Shorb is a counselor and the founder of CCES in Hanover, PA. They provide a variety of services including premarital counseling, marriage counseling, family counseling and much more.
