"Listen"

I heard a cowboy artist friend,

Say how great a thing it is,

To really learn to listen,

And let me tell you this,

He is so right about it,

As every cowboy knows,

If you can keep your mouth shut,

Your knowledge always grows.

And the top hands whom I’ve been around,

That meant the most to me,

I’d never got the benefit,

Without listening to them, see.

Sometimes I overheard the talk,

When they spoke to someone else,

Sometimes I watched and soaked it up,

Deep down the lesson felt.

And just like the artist said,

The odds go high and true,

That if you learn to listen well,

They’ll listen soon to you.

I find that if I’ll listen,

It’s a way to show I care,

To give someone attention,

And hear all that they share.

And one more thing before I go,

The Good Lord has taught me,

If patiently you give your ear,

Though your favorite need not be,

You will not miss the one He sends,

To give His truth to you,

He’s not run out of miracles,

And wants to show it’s true.

“Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak…” (James 1:19, NIV)

Great advice, don’t you think? I rarely regret what I don’t say. I have been advised by people much wiser than me: wait before you respond. Sometimes this advice came when I was fairly itching to spout off about something. Wait. Rein it in. Collect yourself and pray. Don’t let your emotions get away like a runaway horse. Almost always this is needed before we can speak the truth in love to each other. If not, we might speak the truth, but our emotions are so uptight that people miss the words we are trying to share with them. Stop and listen. In almost every single case when I did this, I did not regret it. By I often regret speaking up too soon. (Dino Cornay is the artist I mentioned in the poem. He also said: “God has not run out of miracles.” He is a friend.)

Lord, watch over and help us control every word we speak. Teach us to be good listeners, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Dino Cornay, used by permission. Thanks, Dino, and God bless you.