To Listen and Hear

It’s Christmas Eve. All is quiet, all is still. Not a sound could be heard. Actually that’s a bare faced lie! Although, at the time of writing this, 16.28pm my house is relatively quiet. My eldest has just got home from work, my wife is still working in her office, and my youngest daughter is up in her room. I can hear my son and daughter talking to each other from down here in my studio. I smile. My son, who as I just mentioned has just walked in the door from work, is 6 years older than his sister. He is almost 19, she is almost 13. Yet, he makes a point of going to see his younger sister and talk with her.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I love my older brother very much, and as the years have gone on, our relationship has only grown stronger and closer. Yet, when we were younger, I don’t remember spending as much time with him as my two kids do. Maybe it does have something to do with the 6 year age gap between my children. There is only 18months between my brother and I.

I noticed them talking together, and the happy tone with which they were conversing. I noticed this through taking a little time to just listen. Not only that, but actually hear what they were saying. I started to question myself. I consider myself a pretty good listener. The majority of my career relied on being a good listener. I then began to evaluate on how much I actually hear. As one suffers with short term memory loss, I do question how much I actually listen, hear, or just don’t take in. Food for thought I feel.

At this time of year, as we hopefully get some time to spend with our loved ones, take a step back and press the brake pedal a little; do we actually take stock and take a little time to listen and hear? Listen and hear to what someone close to us is trying to tell us but can’t maybe? Listen and hear to what our own bodies are trying to tell us about how we treat them? Listen and hear to what our minds are telling us about how we are dealing with the stresses and strains of daily life? Listen and hear to those souls around us who need our help?

In a world currently full of pain, hurt, wars, famine and hate, it is so easy to get caught up in the negativity of everything we see going on nightly on our TV screens through the news. Yet, how easy would it be to just show someone love? Show someone a bit of care and attention. Show someone that they are valued and heard. Listen and hear. You never know how much a smile could mean, or how far a kind word could go. It literally could be a life saver for someone. Just to be seen, when they may feel invisible.

24. Matthew 1:21

“She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

Whether you celebrate Christmas as I do is not important. I celebrate because of Christs birth, a baby born and laid in a manger in a barn / stable in Bethlehem 2000 years ago, to save the world from itself and its sin. The true meaning of Christmas some would argue has been lost over many years, yet for millions of people worldwide it hasn’t. Even if you are of another faith, or no faith at all, there are aspects I am sure we can agree on that endure from Christs birth 2000 years ago. Love, Peace, Forgiveness, Family and hope.

As we look to celebrate Christmas for 2024 and look towards another year, my prayer for you, myself, and world is that we are able to listen and hear more effectively. That we may show kindness, love, and genuine compassion where needed. That we may be empathetic and generous to those truly in need, both materialistically if within our means, but also with our time. I pray that the world awakens to the real truth found within scripture. And that we are humble enough not to let pride get in the way when we ourselves need help.

May you and your loved ones have a very happy, and blessed Christmas.