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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDaily Reading: <\/strong>Job 20-21 GW<\/a>; Colossians 1 GW<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Just listen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When someone you love is in pain, you don\u2019t have to talk. Words aren\u2019t necessary, but open ears are. During tragedy, I hear these words often, \u201cI don\u2019t know what to say.\u201d Neither do I, which is why saying nothing is a good choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Three and a half years ago, one of my best friends\u2019 sons became a murder victim. While helping his father finish a project for a homeless veteran, two 18-year-old boys accosted them. My friend\u2019s husband miraculously recovered from five bullet wounds. Her son died from two shots to the heart. What do you say in a moment like this one? Nothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No one knows what to say when the worst-case scenario happens. I called and left a simple message. \u201cI have no words. I\u2019m here for you whatever you need, day or night. I love you.\u201d Then I just kept showing up, over and over again. Not just at her son\u2019s memorial but week after week. Not offering advice, listening when she wants to talk, continually praying for her and the family, moving forward with them, one step at a time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Silence helps heal.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Choosing to remain silent allows others to talk and heal.\u00a0 Discussing things you never thought you would isn\u2019t easy for anyone.\u00a0 Create a safe place for them that will enable them to vent.\u00a0 Trustworthy environments allow hurting people to release their pain which helps them heal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Forty-two months later, I\u2019m still quiet. We talk about whatever topic she wants. When God nudges me, I send encouragement. With Jesus, we\u2019re healing together, one day at a time. You don\u2019t have to have all the answers for a heartbroken person. All you have to do is show up and say nothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Listen with love. Allow others to vent, knowing they\u2019re safe with you. Hugs heal more than words.<\/p>\n\n\n\n .<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n Lord, thank You for always listening when we\u2019re hurting. Forgive us for trying to explain the unexplainable. Help us today listen more than we talk. Give us open ears to hear the pain in our loved ones\u2019 voices. Please help us to let others express themselves to us; however, they want. Keep our mouths closed and ears attentive. Let us love well today for Jesus. IJNIP. Amen<\/p>\n\n\n\n Question for reflection<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Who can you listen to today?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 2 minute read. Daily Reading: Job 20-21 GW; Colossians 1 GW Just listen. When someone you love is in pain, you don\u2019t have to talk. Words aren\u2019t necessary, but open ears are. During tragedy, I hear these words often, \u201cI don\u2019t know what to say.\u201d Neither do I, which is why saying nothing is a… Continue reading How Listening Will Make You A Good Comforter<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4349","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","without-featured-image"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.honestreflections.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4349","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.honestreflections.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.honestreflections.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.honestreflections.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.honestreflections.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4349"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.honestreflections.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4349\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4356,"href":"https:\/\/www.honestreflections.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4349\/revisions\/4356"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.honestreflections.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4349"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.honestreflections.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4349"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.honestreflections.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4349"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"\"](\"https:\/\/shop.honestreflections.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/bookcover.jpg\")