Honoring Through Listening

Honoring through Listening

Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.

Romans 12:10

WE ARE ALL BUSY. Often, too busy to listen. And yet, listening is the only way we will ever come to understand our spouse’s thoughts and feelings. Listening takes time and requires focus. Many people pride themselves in being able to listen while reading e-mails or watching television, but I question if that’s really listening. One husband said, “My wife insists that I sit down and listen to her. I feel like I’m in a straitjacket, like I’m wasting time.”

In Romans 12, Paul tells us to “take delight in honoring each other.” One way to honor someone is to listen intently and to give him or her your full attention. It’s a question of respect. When we drop everything, look at our spouse, and listen, we communicate, “You are the most important person in my life.” On the other hand, when we try to listen while doing other things, we communicate, “You are just one of my many interests.” Listening is a powerful expression of love.

Father, I want to honor my spouse by being a good listener. Help me to be willing to focus my full attention on him or her so I can really understand the words being said.

Listening