Who's Listening

I try to be a good listener.  After almost 5 decades on earth I like to think I've gotten better.  But I admit I struggle sometimes.  They say the best way to listen is with intent to understand, and I agree. Most of us harbor such a need to be heard that we forget to listen to others,  much less understand them. I have "feelings" to do things for others pretty much all the time. My brain is full of them. "Call her, text him, check on them, write a letter, give a gift, stop by, make sure they are noticed, make sure they know they are appreciated, make sure they know they are loved".....so much going on all the time. I listen to many of them. But I'm the first one to admit that life gets in the way. What if I am tired or distracted, or don't feel well, or I question the origin of my thoughts-is it really something I am supposed to do or is it just a passing "Heather" thought? I have decided that if it is good, I need to do it. And I try. It is one of my missions in life. And something I come by rightly. Listening is something my mother has always done with grace and beauty. I have had a wonderful teacher and example in watching her do this my whole life. Between her and my dad, we learned often what listening can do. And as it is Memorial Day, I have to give some kudos to my dad for helping me from Heaven to hear some of those promptings a little more clearly.

Mom and Me-I call her my mini me.

Remembering his service in the Army

Angel Dad-Helping From Heaven

 

 

For the past 18 months I have been trying to hone the skill of listening....to others, to my family, to my intuition, to my heart, and to promptings about what I need to say and do. I have always thought I had this skill down quite nicely, but I have learned ....that there's always more to learn, and always room to grow. I have heard many more promptings because I have been listening intently, but there are many I have missed-or dismissed-because life has been hectic and demanding. I am always so grateful when I follow through-grateful that I can hear the prompting, and then grateful I could be of service or help wherever I was prompted to be. When I haven't followed through, I have been disappointed in myself. But as I have watched, and listened, and tried to become better, I have found that even if I have missed cues along the way, another one is sent that I DO catch on to. That makes me so grateful. I worry about missed chances. I worry about opportunities that fall to the wayside...but because I have been more vigilant, they come back around by the grace of God.  I am offered those chances again in other ways and times. I love that!

The other night I ran into one of my dear friends-one of the girls I had in Young Women's. I LOVE her! She is amazing. We had texted on Mother's Day, but the last week I kept feeling like I needed to text her and check on her. Things were crazy at work as school was winding down, so I kept telling myself I would do it later. Then I ran into her at Costco. My heart was full of joy because I hadn't seen her in person in so long, but also because she told me some news about a family member who really needed my prayers. News that I wouldn't have known if I hadn't run into her. I was so grateful that this opportunity was sent back around to me. Grateful to see her and her beautiful little family. Grateful to be in the right place on the right time. And this was after running into another one of my dearest friends just 10 minutes earlier in the front of the store. Someone I love dearly and had been needing to check in with. So I was sent to Costco at the very time I needed to be there-and good things happened. This is just one in hundreds of experiences that I have every week. And one I was so very happy to receive.

I realize that not everyone believes in the same God I do. But pretty much everyone believes in a higher power, or intuition, or something bigger than themselves. We all  have that chance to listen to whatever it is that spurs us to do better and achieve good things. My God is benevolent and doles out chance after chance-and as a puny human, but one that is HIS daughter-I am grateful. He keeps me in the loop, even if I don't catch on the first time around. The good news is that I am not the only person who can receive notions to do good. EVERYONE can. So when I can't get to it, I pray that someone else can. I pray that someone else will. And I will be grateful.