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| Uh huh. Yes. Oh really? |
Perhaps one of the annoying habits and the hardest to break that people possess is not listening to what other people are saying. Not just nodding politely, but is one actively listening with understanding in their eyes?
Guilty. I am so guilty of this.
Over my lifetime, my mind has always been wandering, thinking about what I want to say in answer to their words. I want to tell my story! Let me interrupt you and tell my story. Their last sentence comes to a logical end, then I grab the reins before they reach the full stop.
Their eyes glaze over briefly before I hit my stride and then they relax. Oh, well, they think, politely smiling. Are they also mind-plumbing for their next reply?
It
doesn't end with conversations. When our progeny were small, I would
sit in church and the pastor would be preaching, sincerely presenting
the Word of God. I fed my youngest progeny Cheerios and let the middle
progeny play with his cars. The oldest one was quietly drawing.
What was I doing? Hearing Pastor talk and nodding my head in agreement. What was I really doing?
I
was wondering if the crock pot chicken would be done. Would Sherlock
Holmes (Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce) be on after I washed dishes? Did
I move the wet clothes to the dryer?
Yes, inane random thoughts would invade my brain, while I nodded in response to God's message.
Perhaps the worst not-listening is when God is talking to me.
We
have an on-going conversation throughout the day with me querying Him
and then hearing His first four words, before I jump in: Yes, I am right. Then my mind wonders off to laundry or dinner.
Let God Talk. Then, wait. Don't cut Him off. He knows what you are going to say, but He wants you to hear Him.
Let God Talk. He knows the answers to questions you are asking. He understands your fears, your worries. God is in charge.
Let God Talk. He has a plan for your life. Even though you groan and shout at Him, He is big enough to absorb your pain and your anger.
Don't interrupt God. Don't ignore God. Don't guess what He is going to say.
Be still and know that I am God. Psalms 46:10
Ask and it will be given to you;
seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened. Matt. 7:7
