"The act of being generous with our listening is a gift that our world is longing to receive. Can you imagine the reasons this is true? For one thing, in our isolated world, people long to be heard. From the moment we enter school we are encouraged to participate-to talk, to share opinions, to give answers. But with everyone caught up in expressing his or her own thoughts and feelings, there are far too few listeners to hear. The bottom line is that when we take the time to really listen, others feel valued. What a wonderful gift to be able to give. And best of all, it is free."

~this is a paragraph from a book I read and found to be near the top of my favorite list. It is titled, "One Simple Act"

Discovering the power of generosity.

written by Debbie Macomber, a #1 New York Times Bestselling Author

I have been thinking about the subject of "listening" lately. When I read her chapter on "Static, Stories, and Chow-Chow...The Art of Listening", I realized that I found someone who was expressing some of the same thoughts that I was thinking.

I have learned many things from my husband over the years. One of the best things he has taught me by example, is how to be a good listener. He has the ability to look at me, to tune into what I am saying, to ask questions, to listen intentionally. What a gift! It seems to me, that in today's fast paced world, what we hear when we meet with people, and what they are really saying are two different things. A quote in Debbie Macomber's book is a discovery that she made; "Becoming generous in listening can transform our relationships."

Listening friends are real gifts in my world.

If you happen to need a good book to read this summer, here is one you might enjoy.