“People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”
When we accepted the offer to sell our home
and shared the news with friends, we were surprised and humbled by the kindness
of those who wanted to give us a proper send-off. Amid the parties, gifts and
kind words, I was given probably the nicest compliment I have ever received.
While visiting with a dear friend and
thinking back over our time together, attending, then beginning a home Precept
study in our neighborhood, she said, “I am really going to miss you.”
I replied that I would miss her, too, and
that she was very special to me.
Then she said, “I am going to miss you
because I don’t think I have ever known another person who is as interested in
what I have to say as you are.”
Wow! I appreciate it if you like my hair or
the way I decorate my home, but words like that can make anyone feel like they
have made a difference to someone in this life. I think that was more a
reflection of her sweet spirit than my worthiness, but those are words to take
to heart. Words I want to strive to be worthy of, to fly as my relational
banner as we get to know new neighbors and live in closer proximity to our children
and their families. But those are words that I, and any of us, can start to put
into practice today and wherever we are.
We live in a world of noise, but little
communication; a world of activity-laden schedules, with little “face-time.”
But saddest of all, we (according to the experts) may be raising generations
who cannot access the words to understand, let alone share their thoughts and
emotions with others.
We can’t change the course of our culture and
we can’t take everyone to raise, but we can invite our neighbor over for coffee
or take a long walk with our grand-child and just listen.
Nancy Shirah
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