Greetings! 

We have gathered as a nation, one more time, this past week to listen to news reports of terror. Our hearts have broken for families who are forever changed, and as we read news reports and personal stories, and listen to interviews, we think of the sadness, the grief, and the rebuilding.  

It's interesting that as we listen to a news reporter, we listen. We don't interrupt to tell a story about our neighbor who went through the same thing, or about our cousin whose brother-in-law's boss knew a woman who dated a man whose sister had a similar condition. Shouldn't we give our friends the same (or more?) courtesy we give the TV? After all, our friend is reporting the facts: the events or emotions he or she experienced. It is first-hand information, and completely relevant, and important for our friend to be sharing. What an honor for us to be someone our friend chooses to share with. Listening to stories, frustrations, their joys is often what is needed most. Sometimes listening to things totally unrelated to the challenge is even more helpful!

Listening. It is one of the coolest things ever. We listen to birds. We listen to music. We listen to traffic. We listen to children playing.  Listening can instantly clue us in to whether a situation is good or bad, happy or sad.  Listening is one of the very best gifts we can give to a friend. Let's all try to be better listeners. Just listeners.

Do you ever wonder if you should say something or just listen? This article has some great advice