EVERYONE HAS A STORY
Stopping Long Enough to Listen
It was another Costco date day. Shop, then enjoy hot dogs and share a swirl ice cream. Who knew we would meet someone with a story to tell.
Everyone has a story, if we’ll stop long enough to listen.
- Our regular waitress at Denny’s in Gainesville, Florida had a son in juvenile hall. We listened, then had the opportunity to pray for her and her son.
- The mother of a lovely, double lung transplant young woman my first husband and I met in the hospital where she was to have a transplant. We talked together and prayed for each other.
- The handsome African American man who looked sad as he sat in the hospital lobby. I greeted him and asked how he was doing. His 21-year-old son had just been in a major motorcycle accident and was now a quadriplegic, lying still on an air mattress in a hospital room, unable to move. This father and his wife trusted God for the outcome of their son’s accident.
Listening at Costco
Soon after Don found a table for us at Costco, a man approached us and asked if he could share our table. Don welcomed him.
Our tablemate, John, and his family had lived in Germany and England for business. We shared memories of areas in London and the Cotswolds. Then John told us his beloved wife died right around Thanksgiving, and her Celebration of Life is coming up in February.
John’s wife, Joy, was an avid quilter. In six years fighting cancer, she quilted 324 pieces – blankets, wall hangings, whatever.
John was her photographer. The pictures he showed us of her work were beautiful. The church where her Celebration of Life will be held has concrete, undecorated walls. They’ve given John free rein to decorate for February, and for her service, in Joy’s honor. He plans to hang quilts all around the sanctuary as a memorial to her.
I shared that both Don and I had lost spouses and knew the adjustment it took to being alone. I told him about Griefshare.org, a resource for healing and recovery.
We spent a good hour talking. It was evident John was lonely and wanted company. Finally, it was time for us to go to another commitment so we all got up. We said, “God be with you” and how lovely it was to meet him, and we went our separate ways.
How often do we stop to listen?
I enjoyed this brief YouTube video about listening to others’ stories:
Scripture has multiple examples of people who did NOT listen, to their detriment:
- Pharaoh, who refused to let the people of Israel leave Egypt
- Israelites, who often refused to listen to God, and suffered the consequences of their disobedience
- Pilate, who refused to listen to the dream he had about releasing Jesus, and condemned him to death
When we do stop to listen:
- Moses listened to his father-in-law who told him he couldn’t keep up with the workload of caring for all the Israelites. Moses delegated leadership of specific areas to other men, and it was a good decision – because he listened.
- When God was angry with the Israelites because of their disobedience, Moses prayed for mercy for the people, and God listened to him.
- Joshua invited the people of Israel to come listen to the Lord.
“If I had cherished iniquity in my heart,
the Lord would not have listened.”— Psalm 66:18, ESV
Let’s chat
Can you recall a time you stopped to listen and heard an interesting story? Or a time you blessed someone’s life, simply by listening? Please tell me about it in the comments.
I have a lot of opportunity to hear stories here at Buhler. Initially, I thought I wanted to write them down. But I changed my mind– they probably don’t want them written down. So I continue to listen. I hope I also share a bit.
It is one year now since John passed away. So far, I have cried only when I sing the song that our granddaughter, Koralie, wrote for Opa.
Shirley, I imagine you hear many stories at Buhler. And you give a gift to each person when you sit and listen, not for the purpose of writing their story, but of simply paying attention and giving the speaker value.
Already a year since John passed? God continue to be with you and comfort you. I can appreciate how a song written by your granddaughter, for her grandfather, would touch your heart and tears. Love to you.