Listening
“The first service that one owes to others in the fellowship consists of listening to them. Just as love of God begins with listening to his word, so the beginning of love for our brothers and sisters is learning to listen to them.”  Dietrich Bonhoeffer

2 ears. 1 mouth.  We should do twice as much listening as talking.  But also remember that our body language does most of the talking.  I’ve really been challenged lately thinking about what crazy stuff I must communicate to others, because my inner dialogue is not always what my outer nodding head might say.

And do I really love people?  Do I really care what others have to say?  Sometimes I can get so wrapped up in the “big” purposes of life – that I feel like I don’t have time to hear about someone’s normal work day or what they had for dinner.  Love for each other blossoms in the soil of everyday life.

For example, we became close with our friends Chris and Ruth because when we lived in Toledo we would spend most Sunday nights or other weeknights at their house.  We would just chill together, eat food, watch TV, talk late into the night, and be there when the other needed to talk.  This is where friendship happened.

We love by listening.  Bonhoeffer was so right!  I want to begin loving more people.