"LISTEN'...Do You Want To Know A Secret?

     Our ears are a wonderful organ, as, they offer us the 'gift' of hearing. When we are BLESSED with this, most, wonderful of senses, we are fortunate to hear the sounds, that, nature provides...the 'peep' of a newborn-bird...the SCREECH of a hawk, soaring overhead. Without the ability to hear, we would miss out on the magic of music, and, the emotional-effect it can elicit. Our ears provide us with a 'safety-net'; they offer us the awareness of impending 'danger', as the sound of a car-horn, 'blaring' to warn us against stepping into traffic. The world, sans-hearing must be 'challenging' in so, many, ways. Another, way ears serve us is in allowing us the ability to listen, with this act, much, different than the act of, simply, 'hearing' a noise, or a sound, or...someone speaking to us. Listening is an 'art-form', it requires, that, a person 'pay-attention', and, 'hear with the heart', as well as with his or her ears. Offering to listen to someone, when, truly, that, is all he or she may need from us, at the time, can be difficult. Most of us, while, believing ourselves to be good-listeners, will, frequently, find, when we give the matter any, honest, thought, that, we aren't so good at it; For, if, while we are offering our ears, to a 'friend in need', but, all the while are thinking of a response to offer, some 'words of wisdom' to impart, suggestions, we feel are pertinent, then...we, really are NOT listening, at all. If we are thinking of an answer, while others are talking, we, truly, are not listening. When we are good-listeners, we will be patient, to 'hear' the words, and, feelings-expressed, by another. Often, there will be no need to utter any answer, or comment, as, simply, listening, is what the other person requires of us. If we become able-listeners, we will be able to 'hear' the 'true-heart' of the conveyer, and, when appropriate, offer loving, words of gentle-wisdom. 'Oh, Lord, give us a loving heart and a listening ear.' ~ David Roper ~ Just Sayin'..