Be a Listener

I was listening to a radio the other day when the DJ mentioned the importance aboubt listening. It's almost as impt as talking actually. Perhaps this is a rather cliche topic but still it warrants some attention because it's always things as taken-for-granted as such that we overlook. We busy ourselves with our daily routine and throw everything else out of the window. Here and there we place the temporary worldy things ahead of the more important worship and kinship. On hearing the DJ, four "ships" came into my mind. Actually two came in first and then later on two other crept in.

Worship
I was just telling my fren the other day that having faith, i am able to communicate with God. Things get rough at times and my fren asked how God can hear me. It made me think and i realised that God is always with me. I do not even need to consciously think about wanting to let him know certain things, He just knows. I can scream a silent scream and God will hear me. He's just there, in abundance of love waiting for me to call out to him. I can imagine me crying and running to him in my most desperate times, wanting some comfort. Choking in my tears, I open my mouth to explain what has happened but God would simply put His finger to his mouth and give me a huge fatherly hug. All because he knows and so long as i reach out to him, he's there to give me comfort. He's there to listen to me.

Kinship
As the years go by, time takes its toll on the memory of my parents. They're starting to repeat things alot more often than before. Things will only go down the slope from here and if my reaction remains as it is now, i'll curse myself. There were a couple of times when i would just tell them nicely (or tease them) that they had repeated their "stories". Otherwise, i would give the irritated grunt and puff away. Everyone wishes to have someone listening as they speak. All we need is an ear. Too much to ask? How about the times when daddy tried teaching you 23 times that 1+1 = 2 when you were a toddler? How about the 525600 times you popped the "why" question regarding the same old things? How about the numerous times you asked mummie where you came from? They listened and they enjoyed listening. We could offer up that few extra minutes and seconds we would otherwise spend on nonsensical sms-es/msn to give back what our parents had given unto us. "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother - which is the first commandment with a promise - that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on earth" - Ephesians 6:1. The same message can be found in the old testament and other epistle letters from St Paul.

Relationship
I should have listened more.

Friendship
I never listened. It's time to start learning.