Lately I've been thinking a lot about what it means to be a good listener. It's something that I honestly strive to be, especially for those closest to me, and I believe it is a trait that we all seek in our closest friends. Perhaps it's just where I am right now and what the Lord is trying to teach me*, but now more than ever I am longing for the sweet closeness that comes from a dear friend and good listener.
Sometimes we just want to be heard. We want to talk {for hours even} and have someone truly listen. We don't want another person sitting across from us waiting to talk, to reprimand our faults or to show us our insecurities. We want to feel justified, even in our frustration and sorrow. And while I'm certainly not an advocate of self-pity or ignoring character flaws, I do believe in the emotional justification that can only come from a long talk with a close girlfriend -- one who will listen for hours on end if necessary, empathize with your feelings, and even wait to tell you the hard truth until you're ready to hear it.
I'm lucky enough to have a few of these people in my life -- ones I know I can call for a long chat, a cathartic cry, or a dose of encouragement {or all three, let's be honest}. So here's to close friends and to learning how to be a good listener.
xoxo
*Lately I've been feeling isolated from everyone I love, but I know the Lord it teaching me to rely solely upon Him, that He is always with me, and that He is the only one who can bring me true joy and justification.
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copyright Hiking in Stilettos
3 comments:
Wonderful post. Having one person in your life to "just listen" is amazing.
I sometimes call it "unsolicited advise"...I have to remind myself (in hopes of others doing the same) to only give advise when someone asks. Which can be so hard when you see someone hurting...I use to be a "fixer" o.k. I'm working on not being a "fixer". Being a listener is an admirable quality.
I hope you are having a nice Sunday!
love this! I hope you know you can call me! speaking of, when can we see each other???
Listening is definitely a skill and you are so lucky to have people in your life that listen. I feel very grateful to have the same!
Now, about the whole consumerism/fashion thing - I'm so glad Lar and I aren't alone! I suppose it's all about finding balance, right? Not buying everything you can afford (Marni for H&M is going to tempt me!), but also not going without a few purchases now and then.
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