Are You A Good Listener

I remember a particular day my 5 year old came back from school and both of us were engrossed in a discussion about her activities for that day.She was so excited that she was willing to give every detail but alas i was always interrupting her and out of anger she said mummy "listen to me first before asking any questions so as to understand what i say"

A recent study in my daily devotionals made me to understand better the message she was trying to pass across.

Someone said and i quote "God gave us two ears and one mouth because we need to listen twice as much as we talk".
Learning that means quick to listen, slow to speak. Good listening according to the devotional builds good relationship but alas good listeners are not born, they are bred.

The following are a few suggestions to improve one's listening:

a. Listening without interrupting: Fight against the temptation to jump in and finish the sentence, tune yourself to just listen.

b. Listen to understand:Try to understand their point of view, feelings, thinking and needs. Good listening is hearing what they actually think, mean or feel not what you imagine they do. Instead of guessing ask.

c. Listen without judging: Do not rush into conclusions. If you do not understand what is said keep listening, for 'He who answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame to him' (Pro.18:13)

d. Make the speaker acceptable: Accept their perceptions and feelings as valid and acceptable expressions of a valued person. Ask the speaker to help you to understand them better taking into consideration what you have been told by them.

EVERYONE SHOULD BE QUICK TO LISTEN, SLOW TO SPEAK. JAMES 1:19

Shalom