Be A Good Listener

Be A Good Listener “Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance.” Proverbs 1:5 All throughout the Bible we see scriptures that indicate that Jesus was a good listener. I have experienced the importance of being a good listener, throughout my business career, as I learned so much from my employees, as to what their needs were, and then I could react and make my hospital a better place. It is extremely important to be a good listener for your family members. If your children are made to feel that they can come to you, and have your undivided attention and tell you anything that is on their minds, or things that are troubling them, they will keep you informed as to their activities, and up to date with things in their lives. This time when they are communicating with you, should be the time when they feel you care about them, and are there and willing to listen and offer advice and help if it is asked of you. This is the time you have where you can offer reinforcement to your true values, and the values that the family is operating under. These times should always be positive times, and times where the children feel free and open to discuss any subject that is on their minds. You do not want to use this time to lecture, or to enforce other guidelines on them, as these times must be used for the purposes the children came to talk to you about. If you try to use this as the time to get other points across, they will quickly see this, and will not come to talk to you about the things that are going on in their lives. It is important to always make these times, "their times," and listen to them. Being a good listener is also especially important when dealing with your friends, neighbors and other people you meet on a daily basis. Being a good listener is a gift from God. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Six November 13