Do You Listen?

Men, this is for you ( the ladies can read if they want):

The following is an excerpt from Chuck Swindoll's daily devotion (currently studying Job):

I'm impressed that Job listened to the words of his wife. He pondered them, he considered them, he turned them over in his mind. He neither misunderstood nor ignored her. He heard what she said, and he didn't interrupt her as she said it. That places Job in a unique category among husbands, quite frankly. Men, I've found that most of us are not hard of hearing; we're hard of listening. Our wives frequently have the most important things to say that we will hear that day, but for some strange reason, we have formed the habit of mentally turning off their counsel. Let me add here, when you do respond, always tell her the truth. If what she says is wise and squares with what you know to be truth---if it is helpful---then say so. And thank her. If it is not, say that.

How many men truly listen to what their wives say? In fact, how many men truly listen to what anyone says that isn't part of their "inner circle" ? We tend to go into a huddle with other guys - most of whom think almost exactly like we do - and ignore anything that contradicts what we think or have decided to do. We would do well to stop and listen to the people around us - especially our wives.

Take a minute today to acknowledge your mate and thank them for sharing their thoughts and heart with you.