SHUT UP!

Can we talk? Of course we can… we’re women! It is said that God created us with two ears and one mouth for a reason. Apparently, we are supposed to listen twice as much as we talk. We should hold this true, especially when communicating with our children.

I used to glory in Ephesians 6:2-3 (NIV) “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” …and then one day I read verse 4:  Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

We exasperate them when we don’t listen. My daughter will be 15 in a few weeks and I know I have talked a LOT over the years. Often, I would listen until I thought I knew what she was trying to say. Then I would interrupt and say what I thought needed to be said before she was able to finish.

James 1:19 (NIV) My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,

The last 2 years of raising a teenager has definitely questioned my competency as a parent and has challenged me to abide in the Lord. A few months ago, during a ‘talk’ with my daughter, I asked her what she thought God was saying to her. She didn’t answer. I asked again, but this time the Holy Spirit commanded me to be quiet.  There was an awkward silence. Just when I wanted to speak, the Holy Spirit again commanded me to be quiet. A few seconds later, God opened the floodgates of her heart to me. I sat in silence as God allowed me to hear her heart as He hears us!

1 John 5:14-15 (NIV) This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

That conversation (an oral exchange of sentiments, observations, opinions, or ideas) proved to be a turning point in both of our lives. She is growing in the Lord and I am forever blessed by the Lord telling me to SHUT UP!

Challenge: Take a few moments to have a conversation with each of your children. Really listen to them. Allow them time to express their thoughts. Make sure they know that not only you hear them, but Jesus hears them!