Are We Listening?

Happy Friday Friends!

I hope this post finds you having a great day and that your new year is off to a great start!

I am going to try to keep this weeks Happy Friday short. I want to share two quick excerpts from Joyce Meyer's book, "Change Your Words Change Your Life: Understanding the Power of Every Word You Speak," I am going to encourage you to watch a brief video on You Tube and I am going to present a challenge to us all.

First the excerpts from Joyce's book - a highly recommended reading for everyone by the way!
"Sometimes we ask people how they are and they are honest and tell us, but we don't want to take time to truly hear their sad story, so we say something that means nothing to them, and then run off to our next thing in life. Have you ever told someone how you really were when he asked and seen him cringe - or say, "That's too bad," and change the subject as soon as possible? Have you ever been the person at the other end of the exchange?"

She continued on later in the chapter, "Jesus stopped for people all the time. He had a schedule, a plan, and a purpose as we do, but He always had time for people, especially if they were hurting. He stopped for a blind man, a crippled man, the woman with the blood issue, the mother whose son had died, an army officer whose servant was sick, the father whose daughter was dying, little children, and anyone else who had a need. When Jesus met the man who was lying at the pool of Bethesda waiting for a miracle, He asked him how long he had been lying there crippled. I think He asked that question just to show care and compassion. He already knew that He could heal the man, but was interested enough to want to know more about him."

"Do you ever find yourself not asking people questions because you don't want to take the time to listen to their answer? I know that sounds terrible, but if we admit it, we probably all feel that way at times. We get so caught up in what we are doing that we miss opportunities to listen to and love others every day."

Anybody's spirit convicting them other than mine? The first time I read this earlier this week I had a "Whoa!" moment. I sat back in my chair, thought about it, re-read it, thought about it some more. Do I really listen? Do I really care?

I want to respectfully ask you to do me a favor. Please go to youtube.com. Search Brady Quinn press conference. Listen to the 54 second version. It is titled "Kansas City Chiefs QB Brady Quinn Talks about NFL Shooting." It is from the press conference after the game the week his teammate, Jovan Belcher, apparently murdered his girlfriend and then committed suicide. 54 seconds...please listen to it.

So my challenge to us - all inclusive. Let's work on really listening. Let's start with our spouses/significant others. Let's continue with our precious children. Let's listen to our family members. Let's listen to our friends. Let's listen to our co-workers. Let's listen to every single person whose lives we are blessed to cross paths with each and every day. We live in a hurting, broken world. There is so much pain, so much sorrow, so much regret, so much fear, so much worry, so much...You, me, each and every one of us have the opportunity every single day to be a blessing in someones life. Every...single...day! What will our influence be?!?!

Please let me know - I mean it from the bottom of my heart and I will listen - if there is ever anything I can do for you or your families. I will always be willing to help you any way I can.

Have a great day, a wonderful weekend and please cherish your precious families and friends.

Kev