A Love Offering
Photo Credit: Nithya Ramanujam, via Free Images
A few weeks ago, I asked my online Bible study buddies to share how we could practically wash the feet of those in our circle of influence. We’d just read that story in the Gospels, and I thought I’d get the typical Sunday School answers. But one of the girls said something that caught me off guard. She’s actually not very active on the page, so when I saw her name pop up in my Facebook notifications, I immediately clicked over to read her input.
Listening.
Her one word response jumped off the page and dropped into my heart. I’d never thought of serving others by just listening. The physical act of being present and attentive is a simple gift that honors others. Why hadn’t I thought about that before?
Maybe it’s because sometimes I am uncomfortable with the silence. I like to chat. I have strong opinions. I think I’ve never really learned to just love and listen and let my response turn to prayer, rather than a litany of words.
Over the last week, the Lord has brought the word “listen” to my attention again.
Listen to me, I hear Him saying to my spirit. Sit in the quiet and just be still and silent. Lay down your list and linger with Me.
I’ve never thought of listening as a way to serve my Savior, but maybe this love offering is what will please Him most.
I want you to show love,
not offer sacrifices.
I want you to know me
more than I want burnt offerings.Hosea 6:6, MSG
I know that being listened to is one of the best ways to show love to me. It makes me feel valued and important. Listening shows someone that your life has stopped, just for a moment, just for them.
May we listen to others more, and especially to the Lord.
GOD BLESS!
Amen!
Lyli, so many people feel invisible to others. Listening is the greatest gift we can give to one another. What is it they say about having two ears & one mouth :)) Perhaps we are supposed to listen twice as much as we speak. {{Ouch}}. Yeah, I like to talk too. My nickname as a kid was “Chatty Cathy”. What does that tell you 🙂 This post went well for me with my own reading this morning & the post I shared. May I be attentive to Him as I spend time with Him. Thanks so much for this post!
Oh yes, listening is probably the best way to minister to women. Most women experience not being listened to or having their feelings discarded so just letting them talk and know their feelings are valid is powerful. I used to treat my customer service job as a ministry. About once a week I’d have a woman crying and telling me about something big going on in her life. I really noticed in that job how discarded women feel – that their feelings don’t matter. So when someone listens without prejudice or advice-giving, it means the world.
Oh, Laura! Your choice of words here truly broke my heart. Praying today for those who feel discarded. And, we should start a listening ministry. Love that concept!
Blessings, Lyli! So good to be posting again – been eaten up of late by “Overwhelm” – such a nasty cur. But, fresh back from retreat and it took me two posts to recap how grand and glorious the Lord was to refresh, refocus and renew my mind! One of the speakers discusses “listening” as a primary discipleship tool – brilliant little acrostic using the alphabet as a guide in drawing out others and listening to their story – rather than feeling compelled to tell yours! Will post my spin on that soon . . .
Joy!
Kathy
So glad you are feeling better, Kathryn! Hugs
Listening can sometimes be a forgotten skill, especially in this day and age of techy-distractions! But, listening is oh so important! When we listen, we are honoring the person who is speaking and showing them that they are important to us…that we care about them. And as you wrote, when we sit and listen to God, we are “saying” the same thing. He has so much to say to us, but when we allow ourselves to be distracted we will miss so much. Thanks for this great reminder today!
Blessings, Joan
I get techy distracted often, Joan. I am trying to do better.
I consider listening a huge gift to a person. It’s hard to do at times, but it’s something each of us are capable of giving. And when we need someone to listen to us, there’s no other gift as valuable. Thanks for reminding us to listen, Lyli.
I started thought about using a picture of a gift to correspond with this post. That was an initial concept. I do agree that it’s one of the best gifts we can give — and it’s free! 🙂
I do believe that listening to someone is one of the greatest gifts we can give. Thank you for this post and for being such a great hostess each week.
For me, the key is that I need to be intentional about the giving. That’s why I ended up using the word “offering.”
I think most of us are simply wanting to be seen and heard, so yes, I believe listening is a precious gift to another. I always enjoy your thought-provoking posts, Lyli. {Hugs} to you.
Hugs, friend 🙂
Our children are blessed when we listen to them. One of the best gifts that my husband gave to our son was listening–he would take him out for lunch or breakfast so they would have time to talk.
Love the idea of setting a specific date aside to invest in this with our children.
Be still, my soul, be still! Wait patiently upon the Lord be still, my soul, be still!
Loved this, Lyli…may I be QUIET!!
I love that passage from the Psalms, Nannette. Thanks for reminding me of it today. xoxo
Be still. Be quiet. And listen.
How simple is that?
(And look the person in the eye so your silence isn’t interpreted as ignoring)
Yes, eye contact and lean in. Body posture says volumes.
Oh, Lyli, I’m with you…I have had to learn how to listen well as a love gift to my family…and how can we know God or anyone well if we don’t take the time to listen…Great post and thank you for graciously hosting 🙂
As usual, I enjoyed your post. Love the thought of listening as serving one just as washing his feet. In this fast paced “me” world, it does take a servant’s heart to do so. What online Bible study are you leading? ~andy
Thanks, Andy! I agree — it really does take intentional effort to slow down and listen well.
I am blessed to lead a wonderful group of women as part of the Good Morning Girls Community. Right now, we are doing an 8-week study on the love of God. I am so enjoying it!
Beautiful answer and a lovely thought to ponder. The intimacy of washing one’s feet can truly share the spot with listening. I, too, would not have thought they could be equally intimate, but they can. Praising God for insight into His Word and ways.
Caring through Christ, ~ linda
Thank you for pointing out that serving another increases intimacy. So true (and thought provoking!)
I’m a good listener and I never thought of it as a service — It’s easy since I’m not a talker and enjoy the silence. I’ve always thought it was a negative part of me. Maybe I should start looking at it differently. Certainly thought-provoking this Thursday. Thank you, Lyli. And for providing space to share God’s goodness and truth.
Awesome, Pamela! I think it’s wonderful that you have that gift naturally. Beautiful 🙂
Yes this, “I think I’ve never really learned to just love and listen and let my response turn to prayer, rather than a litany of words.” Great reminder, I need to listen to it!:)
Me, too! Big Time!