Day 1

Listen

James 1:19-21  “You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; for your anger does not produce God’s righteousness. Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls.”

Listening is defined in the dictionary as giving attention with ears closely for the purpose of hearing. I can tell someone is truly listening by looking at their body language. Their torso, shoulders, legs, and head are facing the speaker. Their eyes are looking at the person talking. Once in awhile I might see them nod their head or make a gesture that shows agreement or disagreement. Many times they will add in little additions to the speech such as: “Yes,” “Uh huh,” or “Really?” This is how I can tell if someone’s ears are really hearing what is being said to them. They are intently ingesting the words that are being projected toward them. In this past year I have learned that listening is so much more valuable than speaking could ever be. When we stop and listen we open up the opportunity to learn, understand, connect, and love. We can connect with anyone.

First, I always think of my family. My connection with them is the most valuable conversation I could have. My friends, coworkers, students, acquaintances, all of those connections are important and vital in helping build our relationships.

If we don’t take the time to stop and open our ears for others, we miss out on many things: feelings of others, concerns, ideas, questions, experiences, knowledge, a blessing, a cry for help. These things are not worth missing out on. They need to be heard.

Being a parent of a three year old and a five year old, I have many chances to listen. I listen to stories about school and daycare. I listen to complaints about supper and why I am making them eat so many vegetables again. I listen to my children pray with all their heart before being tucked into their soft, comfy beds. I listen to cries of sadness when someone didn’t share their favorite toy with them. I listen to giggles, giggles, and more giggles as my husband is tickling the kids in the middle of the living room floor after supper. I listen to so many beautiful sounds and words from my kids, but I also listen to the struggles, worries, complaints, and questions that they have. It can be hard, can’t it? It’s hard to slow down this fast moving thing called life to hear what others have to say sometimes. We have things to do, lists to check off, schedules to tackle. Guess what? The lists will still be there. The schedules can be rearranged. But, that connection to others can be lost. It can be looked over; it can feel forgotten. Take the time to listen. Listen to what others have to say. Listen to their concerns. Listen to their graces, blessing, and joys. Listen to their worries and struggles. Listen to whatever they need you to hear at that moment. Beautiful connections and relationships are built off of sharing thoughts, feelings, and ideas. A conversation is not simply someone saying something to another person, but us truly soaking up what we are hearing and building a connection from that. That is great listening. That forms connections.

Heavenly Father,

Help me open my ears today. Help me soak up what others have to say, the noises nature makes, and the guidance that you send to me. I want to be someone that takes the time to listen and learn. I want to be the person that loves because they’ve taken the time to connect through great communication, with the power falling in the words we hear and embrace. Lord, you are the listener of all listeners. You listen to my worries, my gratitudes, my honest thoughts and feelings, my hopes, my dreams, my curiosities, my doubts, my rejoices, my everythings. Father, help guide me to be more like you. Help guide me to listen. Guide me to learn. For I know this will help me love and connect.

Amen

Thoughts:

~ During what times is it most difficult for you to be a great listener?

~ What would your body language look like if you were completely engaged in a conversation?

Kasey Sents is an 8th grade ELA teacher at Aplington Parkersburg Middle School. After writing a blog for many years, she has decided to take the plunge into publishing her writing. Mom Moments with God is a 30 day devotional for moms. It takes real life stories that all moms can relate to, connects it with a beautiful Bible verse and a strong prayer. Kasey is excited to share her writing experience with her students. Mom Moments with God is now available on Amazon! https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=kasey+sents