Chatty Cathy

Those of you who know me well probably know that I'm an avid Pinterest fan. Especially if you follow me, you can vouch for it. Pinterest is a wealth of information, a fun way to collect images, jokes, etc. I just love it! Anyway, the reason I bring this up is that last night I was looking through my board devoted to quotes. (I'm also an avid fan of good quotes.) And I came across a pin that really applies. It is a list called Ten Ways to Love. When I followed the link, it took me to the page of a blog called "Gorgeous Puddin's Ponderings". So please know that the following words and ideas are in no way my own. I'm not even entirely sure if they're hers, or someone else's. Anyway. Here is the link to the pin, so you can find the blog if you want: http://pinterest.com/pin/232990980692396376/

ANYWAY (just want to give credit where credit is due), the first thing on the list is:

1.) Listen without interrupting. Proverbs 18.

If you're anything like me, those words leave you wanting to know exactly what Proverbs 18 says. So, here's a link to the NIV version. I'll wait. ;) : http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+18&version=NIV

I decided last night after reading the "Ten Ways to Love" list that it was the perfect thing to apply to those days that I don't see a glaringly obvious way to serve God during the day. And...well, I'll be honest. I'm a talker. I like to talk. I'm one of those people who thinks quickly and so I truly AM listening to what you're saying but my brain can't help but race ahead to what I'm going to say next as you're talking. And sometimes I forget to listen/pay attention. Definitely an area for me to strive to improve and serve God while doing so. So many people in this world just need/want someone to really, truly listen. I could definitely get better, although I do try. For instance, I always stop to listen to the response when I ask someone how they're doing. I absolutely HATE it when people ask that question and just keep walking without waiting for an answer. I realize that for some people it's a habit and it's become another way to say hello. But for me it just shows a lack of respect for what another person is saying. I also HATE it when people say "fine" and don't elaborate. But I guess there's not much I can do about that. Ha ha.

So, I just decided while writing this that the goal of listening actively is a habit I'm going to try to develop this month. I had been thinking of setting it as a focus for the week, but I don't think a week is going to be long enough. Plus, I'm pretty sure that 30 days is supposedly how long it takes to form a new habit. So a month it shall be. And trust me, it will be work for me. I tend to get distracted a lot.

I have one other report of a way I served God today. I passed a car that was broken down right at a busy traffic light on my way home from work. My first instinct was to think, "Man, that must suck..." But after a couple of seconds, the light bulb came on. Here was an opportunity! The driver was nowhere in sight, so I couldn't offer to help him/her directly. But what I could do was pray. So I did. I prayed specifically for the safety of the driver, good help from others, and the finances to fix whatever was wrong. As a person who has had her fair share of car trouble, I know how much that kind of prayer would mean to me. So I was glad to be given the chance to do it for someone else.

Apparently I have a lot to say today. I guess I'm making up for yesterday. ;) And I guess it fits what I said up there about my liking to talk......