“You’re short on ears and long on mouth.” ― John Wayne
For real. When did I get so bad at this? I feel like my ability to listen well gets worse with each passing year. Is it the number of children residing in my home? The buzz of activity that hums at a dull roar some days seems to deaden the senses.
I think parents of young children live in a state of constant distractedness.
Honestly, by Friday afternoon, if I hear “Hey, Mom” one more time, I want to climb right out of my skin.
How did I get here?
This bad habit/selfish coping mechanism carries over into my grown-up interactions. When did I get so focused on being heard that I trample all over your need for me to listen well? Sometimes I walk away from a conversation and realize I offered very little acknowledgement of what the person actually said.
But I’m learning. Especially through my desire to be a writer. I’m watching body language and facial expressions and I’m realizing that most women battling an issue in their lives desperately long to hear someone say, “me, too.”
We’re starting an in depth study of the book of James on Monday. I don’t know about you, but when I think of James, the first verse that comes to mind is: “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry…”
Of course God would put this opportunity right smack in the path of a wayward listener.
Today I’m linking up with Lisa Jo Baker for her amazing, authentic, community-building bloggy goodness known as Five Minute Friday. Won’t you join us? Click here
Your right! I do think as we get older and the more kids there are in the house the harder it is to listen. I am new to this five minute friday thing here, but I enjoyed your post so much. It felt similar to my own and as you said, and I agree, most of us just want to her “me too”. Which is exactly what I hear when I read your post. I am not alone in feeling like it gets harder every day to just be and listen. Thank you 🙂
-Jackie
Hi, Jackie-
Thanks for your comment, so encouraging to know I’m not alone on this. Welcome to Five Minute Friday…headed to your blog now to read your post.
Heidi,
YES! We all want desperately to hear “me too”. I loved this FMF because I’m being reminded through reading all the posts I’m able to, that I need to continue to work on my listening skills. And when I read your post and you mentioned one more “Hey, Mom” on a Friday afternoon and your skin crawls – I totally said, “ME TOO!” Thank you for visiting my blog via FMF – it’s such a wonderful, supportive group of bloggers.
Hugs,
Jenn
You are so not alone…….nope…….
We’re all works in progress, yeah?
I feel your pain sister. It’s that idea of life getting in the way and distracting us from what we really need to hear. Thanks for this gentle reminder. I hope your James study is amazing. If it’s the one I did last year – you will LOVE it! Way to be rockin’ the Word!!
Well put…I’m a new mom, and I often find myself longing for a “me too” from those who actually know what they’re doing. Or at least those who have had more practice pretending that they know what they’re doing!