One evening, while a college student was munching on his supper, an elderly man walked into the university, and sat himself next to the student. There was an awkward silence for a moment or two before the elderly man began to speak. He shared his depressions, his loneliness, and his anxieties of being unloved and uncared for with the student. All the meanwhile, the student attentively listened and focused his complete attention on the man.
Before the senior citizen left that night, he looked into the eyes of the student, and thanked him sincerely, saying, "Son, you are the first person to listen to my stories with kind attention. Thank you for being kindhearted."
Afterward, the man left, smiling.
Too often, we can ask somebody how they are doing, or what is going on in their life, without taking the time to wait and listen for a response.
Yet, we typically expect the other person to be alert to what we have to say!
In the book of James, we are directed to listen to other individuals.
"Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters! Let every person be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger." (James 1:19 NET Bible)
Listening entails more than simply hearing and picking up snippets of the conversation. Listening involves unselfishly devoting your complete attention to what the other person is saying.
Although, as humans, we struggle with patience and selflessness (hand raised),God instructs us to act otherwise. He advises us to be humble, and consider others as more important than us!
"Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves." (Philippians 2:3 NLT)
"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love." (Ephesians 4:2 NIV)
Hence, put the phone away.
Unplug the earbuds.
Pay attention to what the other person is saying.
Be attentive to the individual.
Ask questions for clarification.
Show that you care about what the fellow is telling you.
You never know, you just may be the person who helps change somebody's life.
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