"You can Listen as well as you Hear"

Those lines come from one of my favourite songs -"The Living Years" - by Mike and the Mechanics.  I often used the lyrics as part of my teaching resources when it comes to dealing with the topic of parent-child relationships.  The lyrics are simple but to me, very meaningful.

Anyway, in one of those verses, come these lines
"Say it loud, say it clear
You can listen as well as you hear."

It reminds me of the distinction between speaking and talking,
between listening and hearing.
The two are the same, but there are definitely distinctions....meaning that in speaking and listening...there is effective engagement and communication taking place.

We have lost the art of good conversations.
In a time when we are always rushing...rushing...rushing....
and an age when texting is killing language, we lost the humaneness of communicating in language.

Today, they will become my priority.
I will slow down..and try to ensure that I listen to those around me...giving them the time and undivided attention.
I need to be able to speak to them....and they will speak to me in return.

God,
I hope you will always listen and not forsake me...
Grant me my prayers.
Ameen.