James 1;19 '' My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak''
I copied the following from one of my devotionals today, which inspired this blog. ''Talking is sharing but listening is caring. Take a tip from creation. Ears aren’t made to shut but the mouth is. Put away your sermon, save your advice and just listen. Sometimes the best gift a friend can offer is a listening ear.''
People often have to listen closer to what I'm saying because I talk so softly. In general tho, are you a good listener? I think eye contact is a very important part of listening. It shows you are focused on what the speaker is saying. Are you really listening or just waiting for them to finish, so you can say your two cents worth? Proverbs 18:13 'To answer before listening—that is folly and shame.' I know I'm guilty of this, especially when I don't agree with what's being said. I could probably respond better in all discussions if I would listen to the whole thing. Sometimes though, no response is needed or wanted, we just want to vent. That's when a good phone call or visit with a friend is the best solution. Saying 'I know what you mean' or 'I understand' is all you need to hear.
You can close your eyes and close your mouth, but the ears are always open. So listen up but with that being said, be careful what you listen to also.
