Share And Listen

“We too often hear what others say, but rarely do we truly listen. Listening means that we stop using the time during which they are talking as a chance to daydream or think about what to say next, and instead, truly direct our thoughts to their message and intent.”

- unknown

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”

- The Apostle Paul, 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Two Sundays ago, we had the privilege of hearing Megan Fate Marshman during our Sunday morning services. She talked about how we are blessed to be a blessing.

During her message, she shared about a game she played with a group of high school girls. It was called, “If you really knew me, you would know...” Granted, it is not necessarily a game filled with raucous laughter. One girl even commented, “This game does not sound fun at all.” Maybe not fun, but meaningful.

Megan shared that the game had two rules, two rules which, I am convinced, apply as much to life as they do to the game.

Rule #1 – SHARE – If people don’t know you, they can’t know how to love you.

The Apostle Paul exhorts us to encourage one another and build each other up, but how are we to do that when we don’t really know one another?

If we choose to not be vulnerable and transparent, it is simply impossible for people to get to know us well enough to know how to love us, how to encourage us, and how to build us up. As Mother Teresa said it so well, “Isolation is the leprosy of the modern world.”

We have such a great opportunity to positively influence the lives of others, encouraging them and building them up, helping them to embrace how valued and loved they are. As author, Maya Angelou, so beautifully pointed out, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” What if our focus was on making others feel better about themselves, rather than tearing them down to make us feel better about ourselves?

What kind of difference could we make if we were truly intent on lifting others up?

Rule #2 – LISTEN – Listening is not waiting for your turn to talk.

Megan shared that she tries to make it a practice to wait at least three seconds before responding to what someone says, not only to listen to the words they said, but to seek to grasp what is behind those words before saying anything herself.

Jesus said in John 8:47, “Anyone who belongs to God listens gladly to the words of God.”

Maybe I’m off base, but it stands to reason that if we are to listen to the words of God, then there must be value in listening to the words of those who are made in His image… us.

I would think we have something to offer as well.

If we are going to know people, and be known by people, it means opening up our lives, being willing to share, and taking the time and energy to truly listen to others. When we do that, we will better understand what it means to be blessed to be a blessing. This week, let’s be intentional about sharing a little more of ourselves with others and taking the time to truly listen to what others have to say.

Let’s encourage one another and build each other up.

Pastor Ken

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