Wednesday, February 19, 2020

Two ears, one mouth...

"Know this, my dear brothers and sisters: everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger, for anger does not accomplish the righteousness of God."
James 1:19-20

(Quick note: Time is running out for you to hear the folks at Pray-As-You-Go say the word "February"...it's sort of a one syllable deal, like this--Feb'ry. Link below!)
Oh, wow...where has this reading been my whole life? I guess I concentrated on the later verse, "Be doers of the word, not hearers only." (v. 22)  Pray-As-You-Go asks how we measure up to the ideal of listening well, being slow to speak and slow to anger. I'm much more quick to speak and keeping speaking...prattling on and on. I guess awareness is the first step. But it's better to be aware early in a conversation, before this happens or during, not later, laying in bed thinking, "Why didn't I stop talking?" The old adage that we have two ears and only one mouth so we can listen twice as much as we speak is a good reminder. I just need to stop talking long enough to remember it! Blessings on your last Wednesday before Ash Wednesday! Love, heidi
Pray-As-You-Go