What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me — practice these things ...

Philippians 4:9

Listening is essential to learning. Infants hear and see everything. As a result, they learn quickly. As we age, however, many adults develop selective hearing and excessive lecturing. Not so, God. If we call him for help, he will hear us (Psalm 18:6).

One day, a normally cheerful colleague, was sad. “Let’s get coffee and talk,” I said. “My wife,” he began, “was diagnosed with cancer.” Known for fixing problems, he was frustrated. There was nothing he could do.

“My wife was diagnosed with breast cancer last year,” I said. “I felt useless. Only she could make the decisions. My role was to assure she had access to the best medical care available. The rest I entrusted to God.” I was thankful that my words gave him comfort.

Robert Gilbert
Richardson, TX

Dear Father, help me, by following your example, be a good shepherd to those you entrust to me. Amen.

Reflect: Develop your sympathetic ear and its potential to affect, positively, your family and others.

Read: James 1:19 and Jeremiah 29:12