JUST THINKING….

The story is told about how Franklin D. Roosevelt got tired of constantly smiling and saying the usual things at all the White House receptions and state dinners.  So, one evening he decided to find out whether or not anybody paid attention to what he said at such occasions.  As each guest approached him with an extended hand, he flashed a big smile and said, "I murdered my grandmother this morning."  People automatically responded with comments such as "How lovely!" or "Just continue with your great work!"  Nobody listened to what he said -- except one foreign diplomat.  When the president said, "I murdered my grandmother this morning," the diplomat responded softly, "I'm sure she had it coming to her."

   How often do we stop to listen to what people are saying? More often than not we are thinking about what we will say next, we are focused upon ourselves rather than on the other person. The truth of the matter is, when we skip over what people say to us, we convey to them just how unimportant they are – especially when we do it to children.  It is truly a form of rudeness, even if done in a polite manner.

   I wonder how we would feel if God just flashed His great big smile at us and brushed us off with a “How lovely,” or a “Just continue with your great work.” The Bible says, ”This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.“ (1John 5:14, NIV).   If God has time to listen to all of us simultaneously, surely we have time to listen to each other one-on-one.

Just trying to think & listen   ----Sterling