By Nancy Bouwens
We long to truly connect with the people in our lives. We desire our conversations to be more than surface-level exchanges – we want to hear the unspoken hopes, fears, and needs of the hearts before us. But in the busyness of life, it’s easy to let our minds wander or lose focus when talking with a friend or family member.
We miss the chance to offer the priceless gift of listening when we are not fully present.
I often remind myself to “be where my feet are.”
Fully there.
All in.
In the gospel of Luke, we read the words of Jesus as he reminds one of his precious friends to be present with him.
“But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.'” (Luke 10:41-42)
In this moment, Martha was so focused on all she had to do, that she missed an opportunity to be fully present with Jesus. Meanwhile, her sister Mary “sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching” (Luke 10:39).
Though the world may reward busyness, we are called to a different way – one marked by an open heart and a genuinely listening ear.
As author Shauna Niequist writes, “The gift of presence is the most valuable, most underrated thing we can give.” When we listen intently to the people in our lives, we communicate that they are worthy of our time and attention. We make space for them to be seen and heard.
“Though the world may reward busyness, we are called to a different way – one marked by an open heart and a genuinely listening ear.”
It’s a sacred privilege to sit with someone and listen with our whole self, to let their words sink in and their stories unfold. The people around us long to be heard. They long to be seen, known and valued. The world shouts at them every day that they are not seen, no one cares and what they bring and who they are is not enough.
“The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18) When we listen with compassion, we reflect the very heart of God.
May you and I find the courage to put down our phones, silence our inner chatter, and fully lean in to hear the hearts before us. When we choose to “be where my feet are,” we just might discover that the gift of listening is the greatest gift we have to give.
Meet the Author: Nancy Bouwens
Nancy is a writer, mindset coach for midlife women, and professional silver lining finder armed with curiosity and great coffee. This sunset-chasing, hospitality-loving guru navigates life’s twists with panache! Her superpower? Inspiring others to embrace their God-given spark and live brave, strong, and courageous!
Follow Nancy at The Intentional Life – www.nancybouwens.com