Listening is love.
July 18, 1985
Listening is an act of love, and precious few practice it. When two are in disagreement, at least one is not listening. Listen not to what is said, but what is meant. Listening is vital. Listening is love, because in listening, you are giving. You are giving up your own sense of self, of personal priorities. You are giving yourself over to the values and priorities of someone else. That is a difficult task. How often have you put your own priorities into a position of secondary importance and responded to another’s needs? That kind of giving is what we mean when we say love is giving. Think upon the implication of what is meant when you are challenged to give and not receive. Think of what it is that you give, what it is that you offer.