Brenda’s Blog – March 25, 2025
A friend is a retired therapist specializing in couples counseling. He told me of an unnamed, unidentified clients who came regularly for counseling. She was the one with all the input, opinions, and ideas about what would make their marriage work. At one point she talked about being disappointed in social situations because people seemed to greet her, visit a moment, and then move away. She was puzzled. My friend gave her an acronym: W. A.I.T. to use in social situations, as well as marriage. “What do you mean?” He calmly replied, “When you are in a group and it feels awkward, stop and think WAIT… Why Am I Talking? More times than not, you probably have over talked your time and others uncomfortably move away.
My son Jeff carpooled in kindergarten with a darling, outgoing neighborhood girl. One day I was driving and she was talking and talking and talking. At one point she stopped momentarily and Jeff said, “What’s the matter? Did the batteries in your mouth run down?” Nearly fifty years later I still laugh when I think about that time.
Someone facetiously said we were created with two ears and one mouth because that is exactly the proportion we should use as we engage with others. Mastering the fine art of listening enables us to communicate with a highly developed interpersonal skill. Scripture reminds us: “Let those who have ears, hear.” And in hearing, let us understand. Then in understanding, we can help one another travel the path to maturity.