HOW DO YOU LISTEN?

Have you ever thought about how you listen?
Do your ears hear the words and your mind begins to think?
Or do you hear the words and your heart begins to break?

Do you take time to listen to children?
Or do you think they don't even have anything worth saying?
How do you hear the words that are spoken with a whisper?

At times it is hard for children to really know what words to use.
And when they finally are able to speak, do you listen to those stammered words?
Or must it all be right and proper for you to really hear?

Some things that children have to tell are very hard to speak
They don't even know words that fit how bad they feel inside.
So stutter, cry, even run away is what they do instead.

They are very use to people not caring how they feel or what they say
That one more time is no big deal; they kind of expect it deep inside.
They will stop talking if someone doesn't start to listen carefully.

So please consider how you listen the next time a child comes to you.
Listen with your heart and help them to know that someone loves from deep inside.
That would be the greatest thing you could give anyone.

It cost something to listen with you heart and not just your ears
It could cost you sadness, tears, and nights with a little less sleep
But just think what it will mean to a hurting person to have someone really care.

The next time you start to listen with only your ears
Stop and think how would you want someone to listen to you?
If your answer is with their heart then model this greatness to all those coming in your path.